Lake Kimihia is located approximately 5 km to the Northeast of Huntly, in the Waikato Region of New Zealand. Lake Kimihia is a riverine lake, which links to the Waikato River.[1]

Lake Kimihia
Lake Kimihia from Waikato Expressway in 2021
Lake Kimihia from Waikato Expressway in 2021
Location of Lake Kimihia
Location of Lake Kimihia
Lake Kimihia
LocationNorth Island
Coordinates37°31′30″S 175°11′30″E / 37.52500°S 175.19167°E / -37.52500; 175.19167
Typeriverine lake
Catchment area1,485 ha (3,670 acres)
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length1.1 km (0.68 mi)
Max. width0.4 km (0.25 mi)
Surface area0.55 km2 (140 acres)
Average depth3.3 m (11 ft)
1941–2018 Kimihia

Lake Kimihia was significantly modified as a result of open cast coal mining, around the early 1940s.[2] A cofferdam was built to allow mining over most of the bed, by reducing the lake from its previous 318 ha (790 acres).[3] In the 1960s there were two lakes,[4] but the westerly one has been replaced by a wetland.[5]

The lake is situated within predominantly pastoral land. An area at the southern end of the lake is being developed into a wetland,[6] as the Huntly bypass of the Waikato Expressway is built across part of the former lakebed.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Riverine Lakes". Waikato Regional Council.
  2. ^ "Waikato region shallow lakes management plan: Volume 2". Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Kimihia Mine, Huntly, Waikato District, Waikato Region, North Island, New Zealand". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Sheet 56 One inch to One mile map". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1 January 1965. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Sheet 56 1989 One inch to One mile map". www.mapspast.org.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  6. ^ Lines-MacKenzie, J., "NZ Transport Agency developing Huntly wetland," stuff.co.nz 25 February 2018. retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Lake Kimihia – Building four lanes over a reclaimed lake" (PDF).
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