New Zealand’s southern alps are located on the south island of this beautiful country. Read some facts about them, including what created them.
Before moving to New Zealand I was already enamored with mountains. The southern alps of the south island seemed like an amazing, idyllic wonderland that I had to see. After living in NZ for 4 years (albeit on the north island) I’ve visited these mountains a lot. These mountains are truly world class with towering peaks, fjords, glaciers, skiing, trails, camping, unique wildlife, and superb fly-fishing.
Where Are The Southern Alps?
This mountain chain is located on the south island of New Zealand. These mountains run in a south-west toward north-east direction, roughly following the direction of the south island.
They travel nearly 500 kms from Milford sound in the south-west all the way up towards Nelson at the top of the south island.
What Created The Southern Alps?
The origin of these mountains, similar to the origin of many mountains is plate tectonics. In this case, New Zealand straddles two plates, the Pacific plate and the Australian plate. In the north island this boundary is a subduction zone, which has created many volcanoes.
In the south island the collision of these two plates is transverse, meaning that the Australian plate is moving north while the Pacific plate is moving south. They are grinding on each other, causing uplift and creating the southern alps along the fault line.
General Facts About The Southern Alps
These mountains form the great divide of the south island with rivers heading either east or west from them. They also play a crucial role in the climate of the country, causing the west side to be very wet and the east side to be dry.
The highest peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook at 3,724 meters, is located in the southern alps. Additionally, there are 23 named peaks that rise over 3,000 meters. All but one of them, Mt. Aspiring, are located within 40 kms of the central divide around Mt. Cook. In contrast, the three highest peaks on the north island are volcanoes less than 3,000 meters tall (Mt. Ruapehu, Mt. Taranaki, and Mt Ngauruhoe).
The southern alps are covered in thick vegetation that differs on the eastern and western sides. The west is blanketed in truly wild podocarp/broadleaf forest. In contrast the eastern side is covered in beech forest. Bush line is around 1,200 to 1,600 meters where it gives way to a subalpine and then alpine environment. The tops of the mountains are true alpine wonderlands with rock, snow, and ice. This was the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary (the first person to ascend Mt. Everest!)
These mountains are home to some truly unique wildlife. The world’s only alpine parrot, the kea, can be found here. Additionally, the only alpine cicadas in the world live in these mountains.
Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.