By: Jake Conte
Submitted: 2010-06-09 17:01:34 | Word Count: 566
New Zealand is an area that is full of mountains. The surface area is consisted of over 75% of the land being mountains. The beauty of mountains cannot be ignored so many people wish to travel in order to see all of the ones the landscape has to offer. Tectonic plates cause the mountains to exist from the plates sliding under each other and pushing land up. In the case of New Zealand the two major plates are the Pacific Plate and the Australian Indian Plate. Mountains can also be formed by two plates that smash directly into each other in the South Island. The Southern Alps were formed by this geographical occurrence.
The Southern Alps are an astounding mountain range. They are found on the coast of South Island and stretch to a distance of 650 kilometers. Kaikoura's eastern coast is also touched by the Alps. The highest peak in the Southern Alps is Mount Cook with a height of 12,283 feet or 3,684 meters. This mountain has been climbed at one point by Sir Edmund Hillary. This was his very first climb on the mountain but he later on climbed Mount Everest. Fjords, combined with the numerous mountain peaks, add to the overall gorgeous scenery.
[ advertisement ]
Glaciers can be found all over the southern portion of the island as well with the largest one being the Tasman glacier. They are within reach of hikers and individuals who prefer to reach the mountains as well.
The North Island is not immune to the beauty of the area either. The highest peak on this island reaches a height not quite as high as Mount Cook. It is Mount Rauphehu and is 9,175 feet tall which equals out to 2,797 meters high. This also has the fact of being a volcano. It is not dormant and has erupted within the last 15 years since there were notable eruptions in both 1995 and 1996 as well. Skiing is very popular on this mountain as well and is the most popular location on the entire island for the recreational activity. Skiing is more preferred on the slopes that can be found on the South Island though since they are more suitable for the activity.
The mountains aren't the only things that make up the beauty in New Zealand. The natural processes of the Earth have also created the Milford Sound which is found in Fiordland. Subduction has actually pulled some of the landscape under water. The ranges have fallen into the sea, in basic terms. The subduction is how the fiords and sounds were created. The hills created and the bays give individuals the ability to see natural beauty in the country. The popular recreational activities that people engage in while here include kayaking and boating among a few others.
Since there are so many mountains in New Zealand one of the more popular recreational activities that visitors and individuals who live here wish to engage in is mountain biking. It allows people to have fun, exercise, and see beautiful sites while doing so.
