Lake Pukaki on South Island, New Zealand
© Martin Heck/Nimia
Lake Pukaki on South Island, New Zealand
The glaciers in New Zealand’s Southern Alps have ground away at the bedrock below, pulverizing the stone into ‘rock flour,’ which flows into the waters of Lake Pukaki. The particulate is light enough that it becomes suspended in the water, turning the lake a glimmering blue gem. It’s so striking that film director (and New Zealand native) Peter Jackson chose Pukaki as the setting for Esgaroth, aka Lake-town, a location in ‘The Hobbit’ film trilogy.
Related Images
Saint Pierre panorama at sunrise, Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Siberian Snowkiting Cup in Novosibirsk, Russia
The shoreline of Cahuita National Park, in Costa Rica
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse at dusk, Nova Scotia
National Museum of Qatar in Doha, Qatar
Athens, Greece, for Greek Independence Day
Arctic surfing trip in the Lofoten Islands, Norway for the Lofoten Masters
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Bing Today Images
Red maple in fall, Canada
Sep 27, 2025
The Via Krupp footpath on Capri island, Italy
Sep 27, 2023
Thorn bug, Pico Bonito National Park, Honduras
Sep 27, 2021
