The Emerald Lakes are lakes in the Tongariro National Park. Known in te reo Māori as Ngarotopounamu, these lakes get their name due to their distinctive colour.
The lakes are visible to hikers when they begin their descent from the highest point (1886 m) of the Tongariro crossing.[1] They get their colour from minerals in the surrounding landscape, namely calcium carbonate.[2]
The lakes have previously been infested with Juncus bulbosus, invasive to New Zealand, however since 2019 the New Zealand Department of Conservation have sought to control the weed, which has decreased to undetectable levels due to this work.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Discover the wonders of the iconic Emerald and Blue Lakes in Tongariro". The Park. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Tongariro Alpine Crossing". New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Emerald Lakes freed of weed". Wilderness Mag. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
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