Lake Matheson Reflections

Few places in the world offer such a remarkable contrast in landscapes as New Zealand's West Coast. Near the small community of Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson lies surrounded by dense, lush temperate rainforest, yet beyond the forest rise the towering, snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps. The lake is located approximately eight miles inland from the Tasman Sea, where moist ocean air produces the abundant rainfall that sustains this extraordinary forest environment. It is a landscape where luxuriant green vegetation, ancient glaciers, and rugged alpine summits exist within a surprisingly short distance of one another.

Dominating the distant mountain skyline are Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain at 12,218 feet (3,724 meters), and Mount Tasman, its second highest at 11,473 feet (3,497 meters). These magnificent mountains are part of the Southern Alps, a range formed by the continuing collision of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. High in the mountains, immense accumulations of snow have created glaciers that descend through deep valleys carved into the rugged landscape. The famous Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are among the most remarkable examples of this alpine environment, where glaciers extend toward temperate rainforest at unusually low elevations.

Lake Matheson is especially celebrated for its reflections of these distant mountains. The lake's dark, naturally stained waters can become remarkably reflective when the wind is calm, creating an almost perfect mirror of the surrounding forest and snow-covered peaks. In this photograph, the mountain range appears twice, first rising above the forest and then extending downward into its reflection. The brilliant white snow, blue mountain shadows, and rich greens and golds of the surrounding vegetation create a beautiful balance of color and light.

What I find particularly fascinating about this scene is the extraordinary geographical contrast it represents. Within a relatively short distance, the landscape transitions from the Tasman Sea through dense rainforest to glaciers and some of New Zealand's highest mountains. The same moist air that nourishes the coastal forests also contributes to the enormous snowfall that sustains the glaciers at higher elevations. This intimate relationship between ocean, forest, mountains, and ice is one of the defining characteristics of New Zealand's West Coast.

Another unexpected feature of Lake Matheson is its population of Canada geese. Although native to North America, these familiar birds were introduced to New Zealand more than a century ago and have established thriving populations throughout the country. Seeing large flocks of Canada geese on a lake surrounded by rainforest and the glaciated Southern Alps is a fascinating reminder of how dramatically different environments can share some of the same wildlife.