Comparative limnology of six hydroelectric dams on the Waikato River, New Zealand (1970-72)

Abstract

The Waikato river is one of the largest river in New Zealand. It emerges from Lake Taupo, which lies near the centre of the North Island, and flows in a northerly direction for approximately 322 km to discharge into the Tasman Sea at Port Waikato on the west coast. It falls about 366 m during its course, the greater part of which occurs in the first 200 km after it leaves the lake. Ridall (1967) has treated the Waikato river as originating between Ruapehu mountain and the Kaimanawa ranges, but considering, the multitude of other streams which flow into Lake Taupo and account for nearly 56% of the discharge from that lake into the Waikato, the question of the origin of the Waikato river upstream of Lake Taupo seems to be more academic than practical.