Geography of South Island (New Zealand)

The largest and southernmost of New Zealand's two main islands, South Island, or Mori Te Waipounamu Island, is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. South Island is divided from Stewart Island to the south and from North Island to the north by Foveaux Strait and Cook Strait, respectively. Almost three-quarters of South Island is covered in mountainous terrain, with the Southern Alps, a major mountain group that runs from southwest to northeast and reaches Mount Cook, as its highest point.

The Westland Plain in the west and the Canterbury Plains in the east are divided by the Southern Alps. Southwest's Fiordland National Park stands out thanks to its numerous coastline fjords and tall lakes.

Physical Features

The South Island, which makes up the majority of New Zealand's landmass and is the world's 12th-largest island, has a surface area of 150,437 km2 (58,084 sq mi). The Southern Alps, whose tallest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook, stands at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet), ranking it as the ninth-highest island, divide it along its length, and the high Kaikura Ranges to the northeast. The South Island contains 18 summits that rise above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet).

The Canterbury Plains are located on the east half of the island, but the West Coast is well-known for its rugged coastlines, including Fiordland, a significant amount of native flora, and Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe have both used the South Island as a setting because of its dramatic landscape. Similar latitudes can be found in Tasmania, an island south of Australia's main land, and in some of South America's Patagonia.

Climate

The South Island experiences primarily temperate weather. The South Island's average temperature is 8 °C (46 °F). The warmest months are January and February, while the coolest month is July. In the past, Ophir, Otago, has had temperatures as low as 21.6 °C (6.9 °F) and Rangiora, Canterbury, as high as 42.4 °C (108.3 °F). Extremely rainy conditions on the West Coast contrast strongly with semi-arid conditions in Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin. The majority of places receive between 600 and 1,600 mm (24-63 in) of rainfall, with the West Coast receiving the most and the East Coast, primarily the Canterbury Plains, receiving the least.

The wettest city is Invercargill, which gets approximately 1,150 millimetres (45 in) of rain annually, whereas Christchurch is the driest, with about 640 millimetres (25 in) of rain annually. While the northern and north-eastern regions of the South Island are the sunniest regions and receive about 2,400-2,500 hours of sunshine yearly, the southern and south-western regions of the South Island have a colder and cloudier environment.

Fiords

The southwest of the island, in a mountainous region known as Fiordland, is home to the island's 15 recognized maritime fiords. Although all maritime fiords have the word Sound in their names, the term "fiord" is preferred in New Zealand over "fjord." Glacial valleys are also filled with lakes in the Fiordland and Otago areas. Three of Lake Te Anau's western arms are fiords, thus their name. To the north of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi is a fiord with a silted-up mouth known as Lake McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai.

In the far south of Fiordland, lakes Hakapoua, Poteriteri, Monowai, and Hauroko all fill significant glacier valleys. Fiords make up the west, north, and south arms of Lake Manapouri. The Marlborough Sounds, a collection of large indentations in the South Island's northernmost shoreline, are actually rias, or drowned river valleys.

Glaciers

The South Island is home to the majority of New Zealand's glaciers. They are typically located close to the Main Divide in the Southern Alps. About 3,155 glaciers with an area of at least one hectare (2.5 acres) were counted in the 1980s South Island glacier inventory. More than 10 hectares were covered by about one-sixth of these glaciers. These include the Haupapa/Tasman, Hooker, Mueller, and Murchison glaciers in the east, as well as the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the west coast.

Lakes

Eight of the ten largest lakes in New Zealand are on the South Island. Lake Wakatipu, Lake Tekapo, and Lake Manapouri are a few of the lakes that were created by glaciers. In western Southland, Lake Hauroko is the deepest (462 m). The world's 16th deepest lake is located there. Central Otago once had a massive lake called Lake Manuherikia millions of years ago. Fish and crocodile fossils have been discovered there, and the area has been gradually filled with muck.

Te Whipounamu National Historic Site

Te Whipounamu, also known as "the place of greenstone" in Maori, is a South Island World Heritage Site. It is a 26,000 square kilometre (10,000 square mile) area that includes the national parks of Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, and Westland Tai Poutini. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1990. One of the factors for its inclusion as a World Heritage Site is that it is regarded to have some of the best contemporary representations of the original flora and wildlife present in Gondwanaland.

Biodiversity

A total of six forest parks within the South Island which sit on publicly owned land managed by the Department of Conservation. The National Parks Act of 1980 authorized the creation of ten national parks on the South Island, which are managed by the Department of Conservation. The South Island is home to a number of indigenous bird species. As a result of human hunting and the introduction of cats and rats, several bird species on the South Island are now extinct. The South Island goose, South Island giant moa, Haast's eagle, and South Island piopio are extinct species.

Conclusion

The South Island of New Zealand offers a wonderful and breath-taking natural experience with its towering Southern Alps, gorgeous fjords, and varied landscapes. It is a place of opposites, with the brighter and drier east coast sitting alongside the rocky west coast with its glaciers. The island's extensive national parks and abundant biodiversity make it a refuge for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who love the outdoors. The South Island's unadulterated beauty and distinctive flora and fauna never fail to enthral visitors, whether they are walking through the ancient woods or fiord-diving in Fiordland National Park. The South Island of New Zealand is a natural. The island's climate ranges from temperate to semi-arid, which gives plants and animals unique habitats.

The vast biodiversity of the island is preserved by the designation of the Fiordland and Te Waipounamu areas as World Heritage Sites. The South Island provides countless chances for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists seeking an immersed experience in nature's grandeur thanks to its spectacular beauty and rich natural heritage. The South Island is a must-visit location for any nature enthusiast, offering hiking, skiing, and exploration of the magnificent lakes and fiords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which island in New Zealand is the biggest?

Among New Zealand's two main islands, the South Island is the largest and furthest south.

What standout geographical characteristics characterize the South Island?

The Southern Alps, fjords, glaciers, and huge lakes like Lake Wakatipu and Lake Tekapo are what define the South Island.

Does the South Island have any national parks?

A number of national parks, including Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, and Westland Tai Poutini, are located on the South Island.

What kind of climate might you expect on the South Island?

The East Coast of the South Island has a cooler and cloudier environment, whereas the West Coast gets rainy weather.

Why is Te Waipounamu popular?

The South Island's Te Waipounamu, also known as "the place of greenstone" in Mori, is a World Heritage Site noted for its native fauna and vegetation from the long-gone continent of Gondwanaland.