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Story: South Canterbury places

Lake Pūkaki

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Lake Pūkaki

The milky turquoise hue of Lake Pūkaki is produced by fine glacial rock flour, suspended in the water. The lake stores water for the Waitaki hydroelectric system, rising and falling according to demand. Aoraki/Mt Cook is in the background.

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by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, South Canterbury places – Mackenzie Country, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11447/lake-pukaki (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 17 August 2015.