Discovery of a New Lake.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 84, 20 June 1871, Page 6

Discovery of a New Lake.

A correspondent, in a lettter to the “Arrow Advocate” of Friday last gives the following interesting account of the discovery of a new lake ; Having explored during the past summer a portion of the Upper Shotover, hitherto a “ terra incognita,” I now beg to communicate a slight addition to the geographical knowledge of this district. Ascending the mountains on the west bank of the river, for the purpose of ascertaining the direction of the main valley, I observed, in a branch valley to the north of Centaur Peak, a lofty ba.irior running across, apparently, the moraine of an ancient glacier ; and I felt convinced from its appearance, that the basin in its rear must be occupied by a lake. Determined to solve the question, I started with a companion from the Forks, where the right and left branches join the main river. About two miles above this junction the valley trends in a N.W. direction, and narrows considerably for about four miles, where it is joined at the base of Centaur Peaks by a strong stream, which I have named Dilston Creek, on the banks of which a patch of Birch bush is visible. The valley here turns sharp to the north again, and widens a little, but becomes more desolate in appearance. About three miles and a-half further, the river receives a considerable tributary, still from the west side, the creeks on the east side being mere torrents. As this was the branch I purposed following up, we commenced to ascend it on foot, horses being of no further service. About a mile and a-half further on we reached the base of the moraine, and now commenced an arduous task, the scrub and snow-grass being nearly level with our shoulders, and the ascent so steep, that our hands were constantly in requisition. When nearly midway, we encountered a perfect chaos of rocks, piled up in most admirable confusion, in some places leaving a road underneath ; beyond this the ascent became more gradual, terminating in an undulating top, almost devoid of vegetation. Having traversed this for about a mile, we were rewarded with the first glimpse of a deep blue lake, completely tilling the hollow in the mountains. This lake, which I have named Lochnagar, seems to be about three miles in length, and one mile and a-quarter in width, and with its picturesque surroundings of jagged peaks, clad to the water’s edge with snow, form a scene sublime, but desolate in the extreme. The creek which flows in at the head, emerges from a field of snow and ice, and falls over a precipice to the level of the lake, the prospect at the upper end of the valley being bounded by a fine peak, which I have named Mount Cunningham. At the date of our visit it was impossible to penetrate further without the aid of a boat, the shores of the lake being apparently inaccessible towards the head. At the point where the surplus water makes its exit from the lake, there have been immense slips on the mountains, and the falls on the creek must be well worthy of a visit, as it makes a descent of at least, 500 feet in a mile.