Lake Te Paritu

37°17′29″S 176°16′3″E / 37.29139°S 176.26750°E / -37.29139; 176.26750Basin countriesNew ZealandSurface area3.2 hectares (7.9 acres)

Lake Te Paritu, also known as Black Lake, is one of two small crater lakes on Mayor Island / Tuhua in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. It is connected to the larger Lake Aroarotamahine or Green Lake by a wetland, but there is no surface outlet to the sea as both lakes are in a depression.[1]

Black colour

The lake has a black colour due to fine sediment. According to Māori legend, the black is the blood of Tuhua (obsidian) which fought a battle with Pounamu (greenstone) who, defeated, fled to the South Island.[2]

References

  1. ^ New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map Series sheet BC37 – Mayor Island
  2. ^ Eagles, Jim (17 July 2009). "Bay of Plenty: The island of dark crystal". New Zealand Herald.
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