It was controversial in it’s day and even now the impact of the Manapouri Power Project is questioned by some. One thing you can not deny is that raising the lake, tunnelling hundreds of metres into a mountain and building a hydro scheme in one of the most remote & beautiful places in New Zealand was certainly an achievement.
Manapouri Greatest Engineering Feat
Fiordland's Manapouri Power Station has been voted New Zealand's greatest engineering feat, in a survey of University of Auckland engineering graduates.
I’ve visited Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound a couple of times, including a tour through the power project. Photos below show West Arm Lake Manapouri (intake), Deep Cove Doubtful Sound (outlet) from Wilmot Pass & the bus trip approx 200m below lake level to the turbine gallery. Both the natural & man-made attractions are spectacular.
