Lake Quill

Lake Quill
Lake Quill and the top of Sutherland Falls
Lake Quill and the top of Sutherland Falls
Map
Location of Lake Quill in New Zealand.
Location of Lake Quill in New Zealand.
Lake Quill
LocationFiordland National Park
Coordinates44°48.5′S 167°43.5′E / 44.8083°S 167.7250°E / -44.8083; 167.7250
Typetarn
Etymologynamed after William Quill
Primary outflowsSutherland Falls
Surface area1.2 square kilometres (0.46 sq mi)
Surface elevation979 metres (3,212 ft)

Lake Quill is a tarn located in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park at 979 m above sea level.[1] The cirque lake of approximately 1.2 km2 is the source of Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the country and seventh-highest in the world, cascading from Lake Quill in three tiers into the Arthur Valley alongside the Milford Track, approximately 20 km from Milford Sound. It is believed that the lake is formed by the movement of glaciers during the last ice age.[2]

The lake was named after William Quill, who climbed Sutherland Falls in 1890 to be the first European to discover the falls' source.[3] Today, the lake and its falls are a popular destination for helicopter tours, which allow an encompassing view of the extreme landscape. A less perilous climb to the lake itself is possible from McKinnon Pass. This destination as well as the base of Sutherland Falls can be reached via the Milford Track.[4] This popular multi-day hiking track requires booking with the Department of Conservation.[5][6]

In 2018, the lake was used as a filming location for Mission: Impossible – Fallout featuring Tom Cruise flying an Airbus Helicopters H125 helicopter.[7]

The lake was used as a wallpaper for Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.[8] The wallpaper is no longer available in its successor, Windows 11.

References

  1. ^ "Place name detail: Lake Quill". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ "All about Lake Quill, New Zealand, near Milford Sound". 1964 Mountain Culture Journal. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Sutherland Falls climbed | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz.
  4. ^ "Sutherland Falls Milford Track c. 1890 – c. 1910 – Smaller". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Sutherland Falls". waterfalls.co.nz.
  6. ^ "Milford Track". www.doc.govt.nz.
  7. ^ "Tom Cruise's daring Queenstown chopper stunt". Otago Daily Times. 8 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Where was the photo with the mountains and the lakes taken from new Windows 10 wallpapers". login.microsoftonline.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.


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