Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, New Zealand

Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, New Zealand

These are the seemingly flat, calm waters of Lake Wakatipu on the South Island of New Zealand. Wakatipu, the country's third-largest lake, is shaped like a lightning bolt. This unusual shape creates a seiche, or standing wave, which causes the lake’s waters to rise and fall a few inches every 26 minutes. According to Māori legend, this ‘tide’ is said to be caused by the heartbeat of Matau, a huge monster that sleeps at the bottom of the lake.