Monkey About II (Lake Rotorua) Traditional Cache
Geckoh: Run out of Monkeys, sorry guys! Opening area up for a local to place. Cheers
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Monkey About II (Lake Rotorua)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:  (other)
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Monkey About
Lake Rotorua is the second largest lake
in the North Island of New Zealand by surface area, and covers
79.8km2. With a mean depth of only 10 metres it is considerably
smaller than nearby Lake Tarawera in terms of volume of water. It
is located in the Bay of Plenty region. The city of Rotorua is
sited on its southern shore, and the town of Ngongotaha is at the
western edge of the lake.
The lake was formed from the crater of a large volcano in the Taupo
Volcanic Zone. Its last major eruption was about 240,000 years ago.
After the eruption, the magma chamber underneath the volcano
collapsed. The circular depression left behind is the Rotorua
Caldera, which is the site of the lake. Several other lakes of
volcanic origin are located nearby to the east, around the base of
the active volcano Mount Tarawera.
Lake Rotorua is fed with water from a number of rivers and streams;
some such as the Utuhina flow water of a water temperature warmer
than the lake due to the thermal activity in the Rotorua area.
Conversely streams on the northern shore such as the Hamurana
Spring and the Awahou stream flow crystal clear water that has a
constant temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Other notable
tributaries include the Ngongotaha stream, famous for trout
fishing.
Despite the large volume of water flowing through Lake Rotorua its
shallow depth makes it very prone to discolouration, especially
from sediment following windy weather. It is well used by
fishermen, but less popular with watersports participants and
swimmers.
Lake Rotorua flows directly into Lake Rotoiti via the Ohau Channel
at the north eastern corner of the lake; this channel is navigable
by boat and is also favoured by fly fishermen. The Ohau channel
joins at the Mourea delta, an area with very low water levels. This
area is frequented by novice kayakers and swimmers. Nearby is the
ancestral land of the Ngati Pikiao hapu of the Te Arawa tribe. From
Lake Rotoiti the waters of Lake Rotorua flow to the Kaituna River
into the Pacific Ocean near Maketu; the rapid descent from over 900
feet above sea level in less than 20km has created an area used for
extreme kayaking and white water rafting.
Mokoia Island, close to the centre of the lake, is a rhyolite dome.
It is probably New Zealand's best-known lake island, and is closely
associated with one of the best-known Maori legends, that of
Hinemoa and Tutanekai. Is said that Hinemoa swam across the lake to
her lover Tutanekai who lived on Mokoia Island.
Owing to the geothermal activity around the lake (including still
active geysers and hot mud pools), the lake has a high sulphur
content. This gives the lake's waters an unusual yellowish-green
hue.
Take 2 on this location
The cache is a log only with a touch of camo,
if you did the predecessor then you will have the upper
hand!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ovt Gerr 2z-vfu