New Zealand Lake Matheson

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Lake Matheson
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Tasman Sea
Lake Matheson, near the Fox Glacier in South
Westland, New Zealand, is famous for its
reflected views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount
Tasman. Long finned native eels thrive in the
darkness of Lake Matheson, which is also home to
many water birds. For this reason the lake is a
traditional mahinga kai (food gathering place)
for Maori people
South Pacific Ocean
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Lake Matheson was formed by glaciations ca.
14,000 years ago. It is situated on the valley
floor about 12 km from the current Fox Glacier
and Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest peak in New
Zealand, and Mount Tasman
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An easy walk passes over the Clearwater River
suspension bridge, just a few minutes from the
car park. The Clearwater River drains off the
lake and is brownish under the bridge, however it
quickly becomes clear and true to its name
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The area around the lake is managed by the
Department of Conservation (DOC) and is
surrounded by native kahikatea (white pine) and
rimu (red pine) trees, as well as flax and a
variety of New Zealand fern species
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The pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is common
bird
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The track continues through ancient native
forest, including tall rimu and kahikatea trees,
to a pontoon that extends out onto the lake.
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Lake Matheson takes its name from Murdoch
Matheson who ran cattle on these Cook River Flats
in the 1870s, and opened a store and butchers
shop to service the mass of gold seekers
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The Lake Matheson walk is part of Westland Tai
Poutini National Park and Te Wahipounamu (place
of greenstone) South West New Zealand World
Heritage Area
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South West New Zealand is one of the great
wilderness areas of the Southern Hemisphere. It
is an area where snow-capped mountains, rivers of
ice, deep lakes, unbroken forests and tussok
grasslands produce a landscape of exceptional
beauty
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Morning dew
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Dawn and dusk are often the best times to view
the lakes reflection, before the wind or clouds
blur the image
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The lands highest peaks, Aoraki/Mount Cook
(3754m) and Mount Tasman/Horokaou (3497m) are
watching over us
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New Zealand
Text Internet Pictures Sanda Foisoreanu Doina
Grigoras All  copyrights  belong to their
 respective owners Presentation Sanda
Foisoreanu
2011
Sound Long Ago - Maori Kapa Haka groups
Maori traditional song - Haka