Along the northern edge of Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island, glitters one of New Zealand’s largest and most beautiful lakes known as Lake Tekapo.
The scenic lake covers an area of 32 square miles and has an altitude of 2,330 feet above sea level.
Fed by the Godley River, coming from the Southern Alps to the north, this picture-perfect lake became a popular stopping point for tourists.
Several hotels are located at the lake’s southern end, while the Lake Tekapo National Park is situated on the southern shore of the lake.
However, the crystal-clear blue sky water, the National Park, and the lovely hotels aren’t the only features which make the lake popular.
On its shores, there’s a church known as the Church of the Good Shephard. It’s the first church in the region, built by pioneers in 1935 and remains as one of the most photographed New Zealand’s churches.
Near the church, there’s a bronze statue of a collie sheepdog dedicated to the indispensable role of the sheepdog across the region.
The statue was inspired by Innes Ellison of Kaikoura who had a dog called Haig. He was also the sculptor of the bronze monument and worked on its construction for approximately 15 months.
Concerning hydroelectricity, a power station’s construction started in 1938 and was supposed to be finished by 1943.
When World War 2 began, the construction was delayed, but it was restarted one year later, so the ‘Tekapo A’ power station was finally finished by 1951.
Thanks to the power station and the development of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectric scheme water, today, there is a 16 miles canal leading to ‘Tekapo B’ on the shores of the nearby lake Pukaki.
Under the orders of the government, the two power stations were transferred from Meridian Energy to Genesis Energy on June 1st, 2011.
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Tekapo is the best place for people who want to escape the urban hustle and bustle and enjoy the cloud-free sky and the warm water of the lake.
Tourists who have already visited the lake and its surrounding area, say that it’s the best place in the Southern Hemisphere where you can see a crystal clear starry sky.