Lake Tennyson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Tennyson (elevation 1,102 metres or 3,615 feet) (Māori name: Rangitahi) is a glacial high-country lake in Canterbury, New Zealand. The first European settler to see the lake was Frederick Weld in 1853, who also named it. The headwaters of the Waiau Toa / Clarence River are just to the north, and the river flows through Lake Tennyson.
Lake Tennyson was discovered by Frederick Weld in 1853;[1][2] Weld was the inaugural member of parliament for the Wairau electorate.[3] The nearby Mount Weld is named for Weld, who climbed the mountain in March 1855.[4] The reason for Weld exploring the area was his search for an overland route between Nelson and Canterbury for driving sheep.[2] The lake is assumed to be named for the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.[1] Weld described the lake as follows:
Lake Tennyson in beauty far surpasses anything that I have ever seen in New Zealand.
Description
.jpg)
The small glacial lake is 1,102 metres (3,615 ft) above sea level.[5] A broad moraine with a number of tarns (i.e. mountain pools) forms the downstream side of the lake.[6] There is a basic camp ground provided by the Department of Conservation next to the lake, free to use on a first come, first served basis.[7] The lake's perimeter is approximately 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) and can be walked, but wading in the lake is required in places.[8]