Lake Waikaremoana Photo Galley

Lake Waikaremoana was formed 2200 years ago when a huge range slipped into a gorge of what was then the Waikaretaheke River. This formed a massive dam, behind which the lake formed. This debris is also responsible for the odd terrain in the area and the small lakes south of Lake Waikaremoana. Lake Waikareiti however, was formed by an even larger landslide, 9000 years earlier, it covered 53 square kilometres with rock and rubble. This created the tundra in the area and formed a great deal of small lakes and wetlands. Waikareiti is the largest of these small lakes and has 6 islands due to the hummocky nature of the area. Lake Waikaremoana is within the bounds of the Te Urewera National Park and forms the single largest block of native forest remaining in the North Island. The entire Urewera area was given its unique landscape because of the volcanic forces from Taupo and Rotorua. These have combined to provide the area with mantles of volcanic ash and this has provided the soil base for much of the regions rich green forest.