Lake Taupo
陶波湖
陶波湖是新西兰最大的淡水湖，湖水清澈，吸引了无数鳟鱼在此安家落户。湖的面积达616平方公里，几乎和新加坡一样大！ 水上活动全年不断，包括滑水、伞帆活动、喷射滑水、钓鱼、游艇巡游、游泳、划船、划独木舟、驾帆和乘坐水上飞机降落在水面上！ 有47条河与小溪汇入陶波湖，其中包括新西兰最大的河——怀卡托河(Waikato River)。陶波镇就位于湖岸旁，镇上的许多旅馆都组织跨湖前往东加里诺国家公园(Tongariro National Park)观赏火山景观的旅游。
陶波湖是一个火山湖，据说，在过去的27 000中，就曾喷发过28次，较大的一次距今1800年，连遥远的中国看太阳都变得模糊。
火山喷发的灰石，铺散在沿湖的台地上。由于这里的火山灰土缺乏矿物质钴(Co)，放牧的牛羊容易生病(Bush Sickness)。新西兰政府在20世纪20年代至30年代的经济萧条期间，组织失业人员大规模种植辐射松(Radiata Pine)，如今陶波湖东北边的康嘎偌阿(Kaingaroa)森林成为南半球最大的辐射松人工森林，面积达28万公顷。这里的辐射松比原产地加利福尼亚的蒙特里松生长要快得多，栽种后25年，木材加工厂建了起来，林业和林产品加工业成了本地成功的产业。新西兰的森林不仅满足了本国木材与造纸的需要，还大量出口日本，澳大利亚，韩国和中国。
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. It has a perimeterperimeter n.［树数］ 周长， 周界 of approximatelyapproximately adv.近似地， 大约 193 kilometres， a deepest point of 186 metres and a surface area of 616 square kilometres. It is the largest lake by surface area in the country. It is drained by the Waikato River. It is noted for stocks of shortfinned eel and trout， the former a traditional delicacy and the latter a tourist attraction.
Lake Taupo was created by a volcanic eruptionvolcanic eruption 火山爆发 so big the sun went hazy in China (relax， that was a few thousand years ago). Almost everywhere you look there，s a volcano. Just a few minutes north of the Lake at Wairakei you，ll find geothermal fields， boiling mud pools and steaming geysers.
In Taupo itself， and at the little village of Tokaanu near Turangi， there are hot mineral springs that have been soothing weary souls for centuries. And the prawn burgers at the world，s only geothermally heated prawn farm will blow you away.
Lake Taupo is a great vacation destination in both summer and winter. Trout fishing is a major attraction - it，s now over 100 years since the first trout fry were released into the lake and today it is one of the last true wild trout fisheries in the world. Skiing and adventure activities are other reasons to visit. And when you，re not on the lake or up a mountain， you，ll find the Taupo town centre crammed with cafes and interesting shops. The nearby Huka Falls area is great for picnics and nature walks - or you could take a thrilling jet boat ride right to the foot of the thundering water.
A few minutes south of the Lake is Tongariro National Park， New Zealand，s first national park and a World Heritage area. It was created in 1887 when its three magnificent volcanoes， Ruapehu， Tongariro and Ngauruhoe， were gifted to the people of New Zealand by the Ngati Tuwharetoa people. On the western side of the Lake， the Pureora Forest Park is home to such rare creations as the shy kaka or bush parrot and the notsoshy fluorescentfluorescent adj.荧光的， 荧光的 blue mushroom.
The Lake Taupo region has some of New Zealand，s finest untouched， unspoilt， uncrowded country. Just about all of it is easy to get to.
Scientific evidence gathered over the past 30 years shows that the health of the Lake is declining as a result of nitrogen flowing from surrounding urban and rural land. The Lake is naturally low in nitrogen； the increased nitrogennitrogen n.［化］氮 inflows are resulting in increased algal growth， which affects water clarity. Overseas experience shows that， if left unchecked， changes in the Lake，s health will be increasingly difficult to reverse.
Since 1994， more of the particulate form of nitrogen in the Lake，s surface water has been recorded. There have also been increases in the amount of nitrate nitrogen in the bottom waters of the Lake， just prior to winter - when the Lake，s bottom waters mix with its surface waters.
Of the total nitrogen， the only “manageable” nitrogen is that from urban and agricultural sources (2.7 percent and 35.3 percent respectively).
To protect the Lake， Environment Waikato proposes to promulgate a variation to their regional plan. In essenceessence n.基本， ［哲］本质， 香精， this will cap the nitrogen inflow at current levels from all sources， and reduce the manageable nitrogen by 20 percent. This equates to a 9 percent reduction in total nitrogen inflow.
It is thought that this reduction in nitrogen would hold the water quality in the Lake at its present level. As much of the nitrogen inflows are via groundwatergroundwater n.地下水 sources， there is a significant timelag on this. Therefore， the Lake is likely to deteriorate for several decades before it improves.
Waikato River
怀卡托河
怀卡托河是新西兰最长的河流，源于北岛中部陶波湖以南山地，从湖东北端陶波镇附近流出，西北流经汉密尔顿，注入塔斯曼海，长约425公里。自河口上溯130公里至坎布里奇，可通航。上游水流湍急，建有水电站多座；下游谷地灌溉发达，是重要畜牧区。
怀卡托河又称“母亲河”，她穿越整个汉密尔顿。以前，她是运输货物的港口要道，现在已成为一个具有各种水上运动和娱乐活动的场所。
怀卡托河（Waikato River）上的阿拉蒂亚蒂亚激流（Aratiatia Rapids）的观赏时间是在每天上午10点、正午12点、下午2点（冬季）和下午4点（夏季）。激流是由附近的阿拉蒂亚蒂亚大坝（Aratiatia Dam）开闸泄洪引起的。开闸泄洪是为了向人们展示在大坝建成之前这条河中水流的湍急程度。泄洪道的水流量可达到90 000升/秒。您可以从5号州道到达陶波镇（Taupo），之后驱车10分钟左右便可抵达阿拉蒂亚蒂亚激流。5号州道是前往罗托鲁阿的公路。
胡卡瀑布是新西兰最热门的自然景点。澎湃的胡卡瀑布是拍照留念的绝佳地点——激流以220 000升/秒的速度从悬崖上飞泻而下！这座瀑布位于怀拉基观光公园(Wairakei Tourist Park)内，就在陶波以北不远处，瀑布旁设有旅游信息中心和地形绝佳的赏景台。
The Waikato River， the longest in New Zealand， is located in the central North Island. Rising on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park as the Tongariro River， it flows north through Lake Taupo and， issuing from the lake，s northeastern corner， tumbles over Huka Falls and flows northwest to enter the Tasman Sea south of Auckland. The river is 264 miles (425 km) long. It has a gentle gradient and carries a heavy load of ash from the volcanic highlandshighland n.高地， 丘陵地带. The Waikato has formed numerous lakes and lagoonslagoon n.泻湖 礁湖 along its lower reaches.
Its principal tributaries are the Waipa and Poutu. Major towns in its valley are Taupo， Rotorua， Cambridge， and Hamilton (head of navigation for small steamers). Eight power stations built on the river between Taupo and Karapiro are a major source of hydroelectrichydroelectric adj.水力电气的 power. The artificial lakes created by the power stations are popular recreation areas. A thermalpower station at Huntly， using coal mined nearby， began operating in 1980. The river， whose name is Maori for “flowing water”， was the scene of several skirmishes between the British and the Waikato tribes in 1863～1685.