Hydro-Power On The Lake
The lake provides hydro-electric power via Manapouri Hydroelectric Power Station, in the West Arm, which discharges water through two 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) tailrace tunnels to Doubtful Sound and the sea. In 1959 it was proposed to raise the lake by up to 30 metres (98 ft) for an increase in power generation for the development of an aluminium smelter. This resulted in a strong nationwide protest, the Save Manapouri Campaign lasting over a decade, which prevented the raising of the lake from taking place. The Save Manapouri Campaign, is regarded as a major milestone in the history of New Zealand's environmental protection. As a result of the campaign lake levels are now controlled to close to that of natural fluctuations. Also the win saw the creation of the Guardians of Lake Manapouri and Te Anau.
Read more about this topic: Lake Manapouri
Famous quotes containing the word lake:
“The best quality tea must have creases like the leathern boot of Tartar horsemen, curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine, gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr, and be wet and soft like a fine earth newly swept by rain.”
—Lu Yu (d. 804)