1. Geographical position

STRUCTURE AND RELIEF

Shaky isles

New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean and lies about 1,600 kilometers southeast of Australia, its nearest western neighbour, midway between the Equator and the South Pole. The islands acquired their present shape and size only about five million years ago, a very short period of time in terms of a geologic state. Forces that caused the earth’s crust to buckle and form New Zealand continue to push the tallest mountain ranges upward. Volcanic activity and earthquakes are also still changing the physical face of the land. There are over 100 earthquakes every year. As a result of the earth movement many mountains have been lifted above the lowlands or reduced.

One of the most striking physical characteristics of New Zealand is its mountainous nature. A chain of mountain ranges provides a backbone to both the main islands, about one-third of which is mountainous. The most fascinating ranges are in the South Island. They include the Southern Alps, twenty peaks of which exceed 3,000 meters.

The total area of New Zealand is 270,534 square kilometers, it is slightly larger than Great Britain. Its population is only about 3,7 million people with the density of 13 people per square kilometer. The Tasman Sea, a part of the Pacific Ocean, separates New Zealand and Australia.

The two largest islands of New Zealand are the North Island (115,777 sq km) and the South Island (151,215 sq km). They are separated by Cook Straight, 20 km wide in the narrowest place, and cover about 99 per cent of the country’s total area. New Zealand comprises a great number of smaller islands, some of them being far away from the main group, some of them are uninhabited. There are research stations on some of them. Two overseas territories are governed by New Zealand – Ross Dependency, a part of Antarctica, and Tokelau, an island group northwest of New Zealand.

The North Island

The North Island contains the high Volcanic Plateau which occupies the center of the island. There are three active volcanoes in this region – Mt Ruapelu (2,797 m), the highest point on the island, Mt Ngauruhoe (2,287 m) and Mt Tongariro (1,967 m). At the northern end of the plateau, hot rocks in the earth’s crust heat underground water to produce unusual thermal features. These include geysers, steam vents, hot springs, boiling mud, and simmering lakes. Geothermal steam is used to generate electricity. The region is drained by the Waikato, the longest river in New Zealand. There are eight dams on the river for hydroelectric development.

Sheep and cattle graze in the mountains and in the hill country. The areas around Hawke and Poverty bays are notable for the production of fruits, vines, and vegetables.

The capital of New Zealand, Wellington, and the country’s largest city, Auckland, are situated in the North Island.

The South Island

The Southern Alps dominate the South Island, they extend from Marlborough Sounds of the northern coast to Fiordland in the southwestern corner. The highest peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook (3,753 m). rises from the center of the Alps. The Maori named Mt Cook Aorangi, which means “the cloud piercer”. The Southern Alps separate the west coast and the broad, dry plains of the east. New Zealand’s most extensive lowland – the Canterbury Plains – lies east of the Southern Alps. The Plains have always been attractive for farmers. It is now the country’s chief grain-growing area.

The southeastern part of the South Island, the Otago plateaus and basins, is the driest and, in summer, the hottest area of New Zealand. In 1860 gold discoveries in Otago drew many immigrants to New Zealand. After the gold ran out, sheep raising provided the main income for the region. In recent years, hydroelectric and irrigation projects on the Clutha River have broadened Otago’s agricultural output.

Aotearoa

New Zealand, or Aotearoa (the Maori word for New Zealand, meaning “land of the long white cloud”) is a beautiful country of snow-capped mountains, green lowlands, splendid beaches and numerous lakes, rivers and waterfalls. The country was named so by the Maori because of the cloudiness of its skies, particularly along the mountain ranges. It is the effect of the volcano activity. New Zealand is also called the Shaky Isles, its people – shaky islanders, because of frequent earthquakes. The country has other slang names – Kiwiland, Maoriland, Quaky Isles, Godzone and even Pig Isles.