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Zealand Geography: Cold Facts and Surprises While New Zealand's natural wonders are known far and wide - from the stunning Fiordland to the alpine peaks of Aoraki/Mount Cook - there are many lesser-known facts about the country's geography that may surprise you. In this article, we'll explore some of these cold (and cool) tidbits and see what they say about the land of the long white cloud.
1. The Southern Alps are young mountains - geologically speaking. The Southern Alps, which run down the length of the South Island, are a dramatic mountain range that owes their existence to the tectonic forces that continue to shape New Zealand's landscape. But despite their impressive size and rugged beauty, the Southern Alps are relatively young in geological terms, having formed just 25 million years ago. Compare that to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, which are over 480 million years old, and it becomes clear just how dynamic New Zealand's geological forces are.
2. New Zealand is home to the world's southernmost flowering plant. New Zealand's flora includes many endemic species that have evolved in isolation over millions of years. One of the most remarkable of these is the Ross lily (Bulbinella rossii), which grows on the windswept ridges of the Auckland Islands, a subantarctic archipelago some 465 km south of the mainland. The Ross lily is not just rare and beautiful, but it is also the southernmost flowering plant on the planet, living in a place where snow and ice dominate the landscape for most of the year.
3. The Fiordland region gets up to 7 meters of rain per year. The Fiordland region in the southwest corner of the South Island is notorious for its damp climate and notoriously high rainfall. How high, you ask? Some parts of the region receive up to 7 meters (22 feet) of rain each year, making it one of the wettest places on the planet. Given this kind of precipitation, it's no surprise that the fiords of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are among the most stunning and awe-inspiring natural wonders in New Zealand.
4. New Zealand's longest river is under 250 km long. The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, but it's not exactly what you would call a "mighty" river by international standards. Stretching for just 247 km (153 miles) from its source in the North Island's volcanic plateau to the Tasman Sea, it's a relatively short waterway that nevertheless plays a vital role in providing hydroelectric power and water for farming and industry.
5. The Tasman Glacier is melting fast. The Tasman Glacier, which tumbles down from the southern slopes of Aoraki/Mount Cook, is the largest glacier in New Zealand, stretching over 27 km (1
6.8 miles) in length. However, like glaciers worldwide, it is rapidly retreating due to climate change, with its terminal lake expanding at an alarming rate. In 1973, the lake was just 50 hectares in size; by 2018, it had grown to over
7.5 square kilometers - a tenfold increase in just 45 years. These are just a few of the surprising geographic facts about New Zealand that reveal the country's complex and fascinating natural history. From its young mountains to its subantarctic flora and fauna, the land of the long white cloud continues to astonish, delight, and challenge our understanding of what a small island nation can achieve in terms of geological and ecological diversity.