Lake Statistical Information

Lake Catchment area (ha) Lake area Max depth (m) Mean depth (m) Long axis (km) Altitude (m above sea level)

Okareka
1,958

334

33.5

20

2.8

355

Okaro
389

30

18

12.5

700 m

423

Okataina
5,982

1,173

78.5

39.4

6.2

311

Rerewhakaaitu
3,696

517

15.8

7

3.8

438

Rotoehu
4,916

790

13.5

8.16

4.6

295

Rotoiti
12,370

3,370

125

31.5

15

279

Rotokakahi (Green Lake)
1,971

433

32

17.5

4.3

394

Rotoma
2,782

1,112

83

36.9

5.2

313

Rotomahana
8,325

902

125

60

6.2

335

Rotorua
52,054

8,047

44.8

11

12.1

280

Tarawera
14,313

4,115

87.5

50

11.4

299

Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
622

144

27.5

18

1.6

417.8

General statistics on the age and hydrology of the various lakes in the Bay of Plenty are as follows:

Lake Age (years) Hydrology

Okareka
19,000
Likely subsurface flow to Waitangi Stream, supplemented by surface outflow pipe. Waitangi Stream flows into Lake Tarawera.

Okaro
800
Small stream outlet to Lake Rotomahana.

Okataina
7,000
No surface outlets, several small streams entering the lake. Subsurface drainage to Lake Tarawera.

Rerewhakaaitu
700
Normally no surface outflow. During high lake levels a drain takes overflow to the Mangaharakeke Stream (tributary of the Rangitaiki River). Subsurface drainage to Lake Rotomahana.

Rotoehu
8,500
Sinkholes in northern lake arms drain northwards to springs.

Rotoiti
8,500
Outflow is Kaituna River. Moderately large and deep lake. Distinct eastern and western basins. Inflow from Ohau Channel has an overflow to the Kaituna and underflow to the eastern basin, depending on the water temperature.

Rotokakahi (Green Lake)
13,300
Surface outflow via Te Wairoa Stream to Lake Tarawera.

Rotoma
8,500
No surface outflow. Subsurface drainage to Lake Rotoiti. Lake level fluctuates over a range of 4.2 metres due to rainfall variations. Deep lake.

Rotomahana
111
Deepest of Rotorua Lakes. Subsurface drainage to Lake Tarawera.

Rotorua
140,000 - caldera formation
Surface outflow to Lake Rotoiti through Ohau Channel. A shallow lake with a northeast-southwest shallow channel.

Tarawera
5,000
Large, deep lake. Surface outflow is Tarawera River.

Tikitapu
13,300
No surface outflows. Very low dissolved ions due to small size of catchment (low reactive silica concentrations) inhibit growth in diatoms. Subsurface drainage to Lake Tarawera.

Catchment statistics

The percentage of catchment land cover (1996) for each lake is:

Lake Pasture Indigenous forest/scrub Exotic forest Urban Wetlands

Okareka
55.8

38.1

2.6

2.9

Okaro
95.7

3.6

Okataina

9.6

84.6

5.7

Rerewhakaaitu
76.7

6.2

14.7

2.4

Rotoehu
39.9

29.1

29.7

0.4

Rotoiti
23.9

42.9

30.4

1.1

0.2

Rotokakahi (Green Lake)
27.8

25.7

46.5

Rotoma
22.8

39.87

31.7

1.1

0.2

Rotomahana
41.4

42.7

14.1

Rotorua
51.8

25.1

14.3

8.1

0.2

Tarawera
21.1

60.1

15.4

0.7

Tikitapu
3.5

79.2

17.3

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