The second largest of the southern glacial lakes, Lake Wakatipu is 48 miles long and up to 3 miles wide, and covers an area of 113 sq. miles. The lake is 1,017 ft above sea level, is 1,239 ft deep, and occupies a single elongated glacial trench having a gently sloping flat floor (probably due to a fill of fine sediments). In contrast to Lake Te Anau, Wakatipu has a more barren appearance because of the lack of forest throughout most of its 1,150 sq. miles of drainage area. It is bordered on all sides by glaciated mountains, the highest of which is Mount Earnslaw near the head of the lake.
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