# Lake Dunstan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lake_Dunstan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lake_Dunstan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Dunstan > Source revision: 1295865405 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Artificial lake in Otago, New Zealand Lake Dunstan The Clyde Dam Lake Dunstan Lake Dunstan Location Central Otago District, Otago Region, South Island Coordinates 45°01′19″S 169°13′05″E / 45.022°S 169.218°E / -45.022; 169.218 Lake type reservoir Primary inflows Clutha River Primary outflows Clutha River Basin countries New Zealand Surface area 26 km2 (10 sq mi) Deadmans Point bridge, crossing a narrow section of Lake Dunstan near Cromwell. **Lake Dunstan** is a man-made lake and reservoir in the Otago Region of the [South Island](/source/South_Island) of New Zealand.[1] The lake was formed on the [Clutha River](/source/Clutha_River) as a result of the construction of the [Clyde Dam](/source/Clyde_Dam), filling in four controlled stages beginning in April 1992 and completed the next year.[2] Parts of the town of [Cromwell](/source/Cromwell%2C_New_Zealand) were relocated to a new area above the new lake. Between the town of Cromwell and the Clyde Dam the lake passes through what is called the [Cromwell Gorge](/source/Cromwell_Gorge). Lake Dunstan provides irrigation for nearby [stone fruit](/source/Stone_fruit) orchards and [vineyards](/source/Vineyard), and is a major recreational asset, with facilities for [boating](/source/Boat), [waterskiing](/source/Waterskiing), [fishing](/source/Fishing), [parapenting](/source/Parapenting), and [rowing](/source/Sport_rowing). The dam and lake became well known in New Zealand due to media coverage of the geological problems during its construction.[2] While the dam was being built at least one landslide occurred at Cairnmuir, a series of bluffs overlooking the gorge where the dam was built. All parties involved denied responsibility for not finding the problem. Because of the expense of stabilising the gorge walls and the changing economic climate, this was also the last of the [Third National Government's](/source/Third_National_Government_of_New_Zealand) [Think Big](/source/Think_Big) projects. ## Protests This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) There was vocal protest against the project from the local community, with calls for the planning and project to cease. Environmentalists, scientists, lawyers, recreational river users, families that had lived here for generations, and others that had recently moved to the area protested, none seemingly more poignantly than the artists.[3] There was a perception that the power from the dam was intended for [an aluminium smelter near Dunedin](/source/Save_Aramoana_Campaign). Prominent figures including [Ralph Hotere](/source/Ralph_Hotere), [Andrew Drummond](/source/Andrew_Drummond_(artist)), [Chris Cree Brown](/source/Chris_Cree_Brown) and [Chris Booth](/source/Chris_Booth) did significant and powerful work that related to the smelter issue, gaining publicity and acclaim with exhibitions and appropriate comment in various art magazines. Other artists worked on the dam issue: [Robin Morrison](/source/Robin_Morrison) created a sensitive series of portraits on the residents affected by the flooding; [Marilynn Webb](/source/Marilynn_Webb) a compelling series of prints called "Good Bye- Clutha Blue" in 1983; [Bruce Foster](/source/Bruce_Foster) a series of Ciba-chrome prints investigating the pre-construction lines painted on the land, and [Lloyd Godman](/source/Lloyd_Godman) a significant series of large photo-mural prints, toned with gold from the Clutha River, entitled “The Last River's Song”. During the filling of the dam to form Lake Dunstan in 1992–93, Godman also completed a series of performance works entitled "Lake Fill", which involved using an underwater camera to take a series of photographs of a selected vista up the river showing its gradual obliteration due to the rising lake level. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Place name detail: Lake Dunstan"](https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/129109). *New Zealand Gazetteer*. [Land Information New Zealand](/source/Land_Information_New_Zealand). Retrieved 26 January 2009. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ODT_Reflections_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ODT_Reflections_2-1) Gilchrist, Shane (31 January 2009). ["Reflections on Lake Dunstan"](https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/41410/reflections-lake-dunstan). [Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times). Retrieved 18 March 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Geology and the Clyde Dam"](https://www.nzgs.org/libraries/geology-and-the-clyde-dam/). *New Zealand Geotechnical Society*. Retrieved 12 July 2023. v t e Clutha River (Mata-Au) Source: Southern Alps—Flows into: Pacific Ocean Administrative areas Otago Region Queenstown–Lakes District Central Otago District Clutha District Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream) Wānaka Albert Town Luggate Lowburn Cromwell Clyde Alexandra Lake Roxburgh Roxburgh Teviot Ettrick Millers Flat Beaumont Tuapeka Mouth Clydevale Balclutha Stirling Kaitangata Port Molyneux Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence) Makarora River Matukituki River Hāwea River Cardrona River Lindis River Kawarau River Manuherikia River Teviot River Tuapeka River Pomahaka River Waitāhuna River Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Lake Wānaka Lake Hāwea Lake Dunstan Lake Wakatipu Greenland Reservoir Manorburn Reservoir Manorburn Dam Butchers Dam Lake Roxburgh Lake Tuakitoto Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Mou Waho Pigeon Island Pig Island / Mātau Birch Island Inch Clutha Other features (upstream to downstream) Central Otago wine region Deadman's Point Bridge Old Cromwell Bridge Cromwell Gorge Clyde Dam Alexandra bridges Roxburgh Dam Kelso Balclutha Road Bridge Longest New Zealand rivers 1: Waikato 2: Clutha 3: Whanganui 4: Taieri 5: Rangitīkei 6: Mataura 7: Waiau 8: Waiau Toa / Clarence 9: Waitaki 10: Ōreti 11: Rangitaiki 12: Manawatū --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lake Dunstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Dunstan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Dunstan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.