New Zealand geographical location. Animals and plants of New Zealand

New Zealand located 1500 km east of Australia between parallels 34 and 47° S. w. This is the only group of islands in Oceania that lies in subtropical and temperate latitudes.

The region includes two large islands - North and South, separated by Cook Strait and several small islands. Their total area is 268.7 thousand square meters. km, it is slightly smaller than the area of ​​the British Isles.

The Northern Island (115 thousand sq. km) is less mountainous and is composed mainly of Mesozoic deposits. Along its southeastern edge runs a low Mountain chain, and the central part is a volcanic plateau with an average height of 600 m, among which active and extinct volcanoes rise. The cones of the volcanoes are gentle, the craters of some of them are occupied by lakes. The highest peak of the North Island is the active volcano Ruapehu (2797). The surface of the plateau is covered with volcanic products - lava, tuff and pumice. Mud volcanoes and geysers are widespread and are one of the attractions of New Zealand. Some geysers emit pillars hot water and a couple several hundred meters high.

In the north-west of the island, a peninsula juts out far into the sea, on which several extinct volcanoes rise.

The coastline of the North Island is highly dissected and forms many convenient bays.

New Zealand's climate is oceanic, with even distribution of precipitation throughout the year and smooth temperature variations.

The entire region is subject to the influence of westerly cyclonic air currents. Over almost the entire territory, the western circulation operates during all year round and only on the Auckland Peninsula in summer is the influence of the south-east trade wind manifested and there is a dry period. Foehn blows often occur on the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps.

Western winds bring large amounts of moisture to the islands, especially in winter on the west coast, where in some areas up to 5000 mm of precipitation falls, with an average of 2000 mm. In the east, under the protection of mountains that prevent the penetration of humid winds, annual precipitation amounts are reduced to 500-700 mm. In most of the territory, precipitation falls in the form of rain throughout the year, but in the very south there are frequent snowfalls in winter. In the mountains at an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level, precipitation is almost exclusively snow. The Southern Alps represent a major center of modern glaciation. Their high snowy peaks with powerful glaciers are visible from the sea at a great distance.

Air temperatures in New Zealand are uniform throughout the year, but vary quite significantly from north to south. Winters on the northern island are very warm. The average July temperature on the Auckland Peninsula reaches +12°, on the South Island - only +5°, in the mountains it drops to -2° and there are frosts of up to 12°; On the coast, temperatures down to -5° are possible.

The average January temperature varies from 19° in the north to 14° in the south. There is usually no extreme heat in New Zealand. Only in the north, when the trade wind blows, does the temperature rise to 30°.

New Zealand's water network is dense. The rivers are short, like the rivers of the British Isles (the longest river is only 350 km long), but high-water, without sharp fluctuations in level. They originate in the mountains, where they form turbulent rapids watercourses with large reserves of water energy.

In the lower reaches, within the Canterbury Plain or hilly plateaus, the rivers branch into branches and pile up shafts and spits that impede navigation. Therefore, their transport significance is small; they are used for local navigation only in certain areas. During rains and rapid melting of snow and ice on the eastern slope of the mountains, due to hair dryers, the rivers of the Canterbury Plain overflow heavily. This is the only area in the region that is seriously affected by floods.

There are many lakes in New Zealand. The Southern Alps are especially rich in them, where glacial lakes abound, complementing the picture of the glacial landscape. These are deep basins formed in the expansions of glacial-tectonic valleys and are somewhat reminiscent of the lakes of the Alps in. The North Island is dominated by tectonic and volcanic lakes.

New Zealand is a forested region. The composition of the flora is so unique that it is classified as a special subregion of the Paleotropical region. Along with a large number of endemic forms, representatives of the Australian and Antarctic flora are common in New Zealand.

In the far north of the North Island, the vegetation is, according to , subtropical. This area is characterized by forests of the endemic New Zealand kauri pine (Agathis australis) with a powerful trunk up to 3 m thick. The rest of the region, with its constantly humid climate, is covered with ancient relict evergreen forests that rise into the mountains to more than 1000 m. These forests are not similar to the forests of temperate latitudes and the oceanic climate of the northern hemisphere, neither in their floristic composition nor in appearance. Numerous conifers grow in them - araucaria, lizocedrus, various endemic pines (red, white, yellow), evergreen southern beeches, even some palm trees. The dense undergrowth is formed by tree ferns, the forest is entwined with vines, abounds in mosses and lichens and in many ways resembles the appearance of a humid forest of tropical latitudes. Particularly dense forests grow in the west of the South Island; to the east the vegetation takes on a more xerophilic appearance.

On the eastern slopes and on the Canterbury Plain, the forests thin out and then turn into scrub and dry meadows with cereals and forbs, which the local population calls “steppes”. Large areas occupied by swamps, they contain a peculiar endemic from the lily family - New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax), which is a valuable fibrous plant.

Forests also become impoverished and thinned out as they rise into the mountains. Above 1400 m in the south and 1200 m in the north, deciduous trees and shrubs appear, and even higher - alpine meadows of common alpine plants. In addition to them, peculiar cushion-shaped plants, locally known as “plant sheep,” are common in the alpine zone.

There are almost no wild mammals in New Zealand. Only bats and wood rats can be considered representatives of the avifauna. Rabbits and cats were introduced by Europeans and became wild. Wild cats have almost completely exterminated the wonderful representatives of the ancient avian fauna - the wingless kiwi. The islands are also home to wingless parrots, the Sultan's chicken, and the giant moa ostriches, whose eggs are approximately 140 times larger in volume than chicken eggs, have become extinct relatively recently. Some migratory birds from Siberia arrive in the summer.

It is located on several islands, Severny is the second largest, but certainly the first in terms of population and level of industrial development. It shows the country's largest city, Auckland, as well as its capital, Wellington. And countless natural objects, each of which is unique in its own way. For example, “sulfur” White Island. Or the Bay of Islands, where there are more than a hundred of them.

And also volcanoes, dormant or ready to erupt.

IN THE ACTIVE ZONE OF ERUPTIONS

The North Island has more volcanoes than the rest of New Zealand. The relief, the outlines of the coasts, the contents of the subsoil and even what is grown on the island soil are largely a consequence of the eruptions.

North Island is one of New Zealand's two large islands. It is located north of the second island - South Island, separated by the Cook Strait. In the list of the largest islands in the world, Northern is in 14th place. During the last glaciation it was connected to the South Island.

The island was formed at the site of a fault between the Pacific and Australian lithospheric plates. Large areas of the North Island are covered with young volcanic rocks and volcanic tuff. A strip of volcanoes crosses the North Island from north to south. There are six volcanic zones in the country, five of which are on the North Island, where there are 27 volcanoes.

The coastline of the island is heavily indented, forming deep bays and wide bays: Plenty in the northeast, Hawk in the east. The outline and direction of the coastline correspond to the location of tectonic faults. The eastern coast of the Auckland Peninsula, which is located on the northwestern side of the North Peninsula, is more severely fragmented and dissected by faults than others. There are many bays and bays, and countless islands and rocks are scattered along the coast. One of the most famous islands is White Island (Whakaari) in the Bay of Plenty - the only island in the country with an active volcano (see about the island and bay in Atlas No. 332). And the Bay of Islands - on the eastern shore of the Auckland Peninsula - accommodates about 140 of them. In 1769, the ship of James Cook entered the bay, and for the first time mapped almost the entire coastline of the North Island. At the beginning of the 19th century. on it the village of Kororareka (now known as Russell) was founded - the first permanent European settlement on the islands of what is now New Zealand.

Mountain ranges are concentrated in the eastern part of the island. The Raukumara ridge includes Mount Hikurangi (1754 m): the highest peak of non-volcanic origin in the North. Hikurangi holds an important place in the religion of the Ngati Porou, a local iwi (tribe): according to Maori mythology, the mountain was the first to emerge from the water when divine power created the island. The 110-kilometer Ruahine mountain range stretches from northeast to southwest, its highest point being Mount Mangaweka (1733 m).

In the center is the Tongariro volcanic massif with volcanic cones, among them Ruapehu, the highest peak of the island. Throughout the massif there are hot springs, geysers, and lakes with warm water. The massif is located in the country's oldest Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the west there is a group of three volcanoes: two extinct, destroyed (Pukai and Kaitake) and an active one - Taranaki with a height of 2518 m. At the foot of the volcano there is a 10-kilometer black strip of lava: a trace of the eruption of 1755.

The flat areas in the northeast and along the sea coast in the southeast and southwest are almost all plowed and turned into cultivated fields or used as pastures.

The North Island has the country's longest river: the 425-kilometer Waikato, which flows in the south into New Zealand's largest lake, Taupo, and flows out of it in the northeast. Taupo, with an area of ​​616 km2, like most lakes in the North Island, is the result of volcanic activity: it fills the caldera of the volcano of the same name, formed 26.5 thousand years ago.

MAORI PREFER NORTHERN

Most of New Zealand's indigenous people live in the North Island, choosing it both as a place where their ancestors lived and as an area of ​​intense economic development.

The first European to see the shores of the North was the Dutch navigator and trader Abel Tasman (1603-1659). In December 1642, his ship, heading north, passed along the western coast of the island and reached its extreme point (Cape Reinga).

Previously, Tasman visited Yuzhny Island, where his sailors were attacked by Maori and killed several people. After James Cook mapped the North, Europeans began to settle it. Having gone through wars, Maori and settlers managed to overcome mutual mistrust. Today Māori make up about 20% of the island's population, corresponding to approximately 87% of the total number of Māori living in New Zealand. A quarter of the island's Māori live in Auckland.

In the North, the Maori language is spoken everywhere, many traditional holidays of this people are held with its colorful war dance haka, and the Maori Meeting House operates.

Northern is the most populous in New Zealand: it is home to about 75% of the entire country's population. People are attracted to the island high level life and economic growth. The number of city residents is growing fastest in Auckland: the city and its surroundings account for half of the country’s total population growth, 2/3 due to migration, V3 due to natural increase.

In the depths of the Northern Island, mainly in the western part of the island, there are various and significant deposits: coal, oil and natural gas, ores of iron, gold, silver and uranium. The main deposit of ore vein gold is in the volcanic rocks of the Coromandel Peninsula. The amber-like natural fossil resin of copal is mined from Tertiary and Quaternary strata on the Auckland Peninsula. In the lower reaches of the Waikato River there are peat deposits up to 10 m thick: fuel for thermal power plants.

Another indicator of the island's superiority over other parts of the country: the North produces about 80% of New Zealand's GRP.

The North Island is the main livestock-raising region of the country, mainly developing meat and dairy production.

A relatively new, but already income-generating occupation for the local population is winemaking, widespread on the fertile volcanic soils on the east coast.

Since the island has many convenient bays, it turned out to be adapted by nature itself for the construction of port cities, which gradually became the largest in the country and through which almost all foreign trade transport is carried out.

The island has four of the most populated areas, centered on Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga.

In the North there are two “capitals” of New Zealand. The official one is Wellington, the world's southernmost capital of the state, where government organizations are concentrated. Economic - Auckland is surrounded by fifty long-dormant volcanoes, between two bays, on a 2-kilometer wide isthmus connecting the Auckland Peninsula with the North Island. Auckland is the country's largest city, its financial and industrial center.

The third largest city, Hamilton, stands on the Waikato River and is a significant educational and scientific center of the country, with the University and Waikato Polytechnic Institute.

The fourth is Tauranga, where the port operates - the first in the country in terms of import volume.

ATTRACTIONS OF THE NORTH ISLAND

Natural:

■ Ruapehu and Taranaki volcanoes, Bay of Islands, Raukumara Forest Park, Tongariro national parks (Tongariro volcanic massif, 1894), Egmont (1900), Urewera (1954) and Whanganui (1986), Huka Falls ( Waikato River), Auckland Volcanic Region, Waikato and Kerikeri Rivers, Bays of Plenty (and White Island), Hawke, Hokianga and Hauraki, Mount Hikurangi, Lake Taupo, Coromandel Peninsula, Wai-O-Tapu Valley (Lady Knox Geyser) , 90-mile beach and dunes (Auckland Peninsula), Waipoua Nature Reserve (relict kauri forest), Waitomo Caves.

Historical:

■ Russell village (Kororareka, founded in the early 19th century) and Christ Church (1835), Art Deco buildings (Napier, 1930s), Baring Head lighthouse (1935).

Cultural:

■ Ten-meter Maori rock carvings (Lake Taupo, 1970s), Maori Meeting House (Waitangi), Museum of History and Art (Rotorua).

G. Wellington:

■ Cook Strait, Mount Victoria (200 m), Karori Nature Reserve, Botanic Garden, Wellington City Gallery, Abel Tasman Ships Monument, Early Settlers Memorial Park, News-Dows Maori Art Gallery, Te Papa Tongarewa Maori Cultural Museum (1998 ), wooden buildings of the 19th century, the neo-Gothic St. Paul's Cathedral (1865-1866), the 116-meter Majestic Center building (1991).

City of Auckland:

■ Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Joseph (1908), City Hall (1911), War Memorial Museum (1920s), Auckland Zoo (1922), Kelly Tarlton Undersea World Aquarium , Civic Theater (1929), Auckland Harbor Bridge (1959), New Zealand Maritime Museum (1993), 328-meter Sky Tower (1997), Toi-o-Tamaki Art Gallery.

FUN FACTS

■ On some geographical maps of the 19th century. Northern is listed as New Ulster.
This was the name of the province of the British colony in New Zealand, which existed from 1841 to 1853. It occupied the entire island, and it was named after the Irish historical province of Ulster, which at that time was completely part of the Kingdom. In 1853, the New Zealand province of Ulster, in accordance with the Constitution Act of 1852, was divided into the provinces of Auckland, Wellington and New Plymouth.

■ In 2009, the New Zealand Geographical Survey discovered that both the North and South Islands had no official name, despite having been known by those names since the 1830s. The New Zealand Department of Land Information held a public hearing and made a decision: since 2013, the island has been officially called the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Maui. This is the Maori name for the island, which means “fish of Maui”. Maui is one of the characters in the pantheon of Maori gods, who caught a huge fish in the ocean, which later became an island. The island's "christening" cost the state only US$10,000, paid for an information message about the island's new name in the government publication New Zealand Gazette.

■ Until the beginning of the 20th century. The Maori name for the North Island was Aotearoa.
Nowadays, Maori is the name given to all of New Zealand. It is most often translated as "land of the long white cloud."

■ In everyday speech, New Zealanders usually do not say “in the North Island”, preferring the form “in the North Island”.

■ In the mid-1860s. The authorities of the British colony of New Zealand began to seriously fear separatist sentiments among the population of the South Island. To control the situation, the British administration moved the capital from Auckland to Wellington, located in Cook Strait, in the center of the colony.

■ Active tectonic activity in the Northern region continues, of which the New Zealanders have not been dissuaded. In 1855, a devastating earthquake raised the coast near Wellington by 1.5 m. In 1931, strong tremors near the city of Napier raised the water above the surface and increased the coast by 40 km2. In total, the earthquake raised the level of 1500 km 2 of land by 2.7 m.

■ Russell Church of Christ is the oldest in New Zealand. It was built in 1835 and has the status of a “historic site.”

■ Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano (translated from Maori as “thundering abyss”) and the highest point in the North, actually consists of three peaks. The highest is Tahurangi (2797 m) and the two lower are Te Heuheu (2755 m) and Paretetaitonga (2751 m). The crater, capable of erupting lava and ash at any moment, is located between three peaks. Scenes from the film trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” (based on the book by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien) were filmed on the slopes of Ruapehu, showing Mordor protected on three sides by mountain ranges.

■ Volcano Taranaki (Egmont) has a regular cone shape and looks very much like the Japanese volcano Fuji.

■ Egmont National Park is named after the volcano, originally named by explorer James Cook in honor of John Percival, 2nd Earl of Egmont and First Lord of the Admiralty, who helped organize the first trip around the world Cook. Subsequently, the volcano was returned to its Maori name Taranaki.

■ In reality, the 90-mile beach is 55 miles (88.5 km) long. The name appeared a long time ago and is presumably related
with traveling on horseback. On average, a horse walks 30 miles (48.3 km) per day before needing to rest. The journey along the coastal sand lasted three days, hence the name: 90 Mile Beach. As for the noticeable difference in the length of the beach and its name, it is explained by the fact that it is more difficult for horses to move on the sand.

■ Waipoua is a relict kauri forest: coniferous trees up to 50 m high and with a trunk girth of up to 16 m. The northern tip of the North Island is the birthplace of these trees. New Zealand cowrie, or southern agathis, is one of the oldest species coniferous plants, which appeared in the Jurassic period - about 150 million years ago. Local residents give names to especially outstanding cowrie specimens.

■ The name of the 305-meter hill in the east of the island consists of one word and sounds like Taumatafakatangihangakoauauotamateaturilukakapikimaungahoronukupokaifenuakitanata. Locals shorten it to Taumata. Rough translation: "The top of the hill where Tamatea, the man with the big knees who rolled, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as the earth eater, played his flute for his beloved."

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location: Southwest Pacific Ocean.
Origin: tectonic, volcanic.
Administrative seat: New Zealand.
Administrative division; 9 districts (Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and Wellington), 43 territorial departments.
Large cities: Auckland - 1,454,300 people, Wellington - 398,300 people, Hamilton - 188,400 people, Tauranga - 130,800 people, Palmerston North - 83,500 people, Hastings - 68,200 people, Napier - 61,500 people, Rotorua - 56,800 people, New Plymouth - 56,300 people, Whangarei - 55,400 people. (2015). Opened: 1642
Languages: English - about 95%, Maori, Chinese, Samoan.
Ethnic composition: white - about 75%, Maori - about 20%, Polynesians, Asians, Chinese, Indians.
Religions: Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism, Maori Christian movements) - more than 50%, atheism - about 25%, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, beliefs of the Maori, Oceanian peoples, etc.
Currency: New Zealand dollar.
Rivers: Waikato, Whanganui, Motu, Waipo.
Lakes: Taupo, Hutt, Waikaremoana, Rotorua.
Airports: Auckland and Wellington international. Extreme points: in the north - Cape Reinga, in the east - Cape East Cape, in the south - Cape Palliser, in the west - Cape Egmont.
Neighboring waters: to the north and east - the Pacific Ocean, to the south - Cook Strait, to the west - the Tasman Sea.

NUMBERS

Area: 113,729 km2.
Population: 3,519,800 people (2015).
Population density: 30.9 people/km2.
Highest point above sea level: 2797 m, Ruapehu Volcano (Taupo Plateau).
Length: from north to south - 830 km, from west to east - 453 km.

CLIMATE

Subtropical oceanic.
Average January temperature: north (Auckland) +19.1°C, south (Wellington) +16.6°C.
Average July temperature: north (Auckland) +10.9°C, south (Wellington) +8.5°C.
Average annual precipitation: north (Auckland) - 1210 mm, south (Wellington) - 1243 mm.
Average annual relative humidity: north (Auckland) - 82.3%, south (Wellington) - 82.2%.

State New Zealand is located on the large North and South islands, separated by Cook Strait, in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, as well as on nearby (Stuard, Snares, Great Barrner, etc.) and more distant small islands. The name of the country comes from the Dutch province of Zeeland. Official name: New Zealand Capital - Wellington. Square - 270534 km2. Population - 4.3 million people Administrative division - The state is divided into 93 counties, 9 districts.
Form of government - A constitutional monarchy. Head of State - The Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General. Official language - English and Maori language. Religion - 85% are Protestants, 15% are Catholics. Ethnic composition - 76% are New Zealanders, 9% are Maori, 8% are English and Scottish, 4% are Polynesians. Currency - New Zealand dollar = 100 cents. Internet domain : .nz Mains voltage : ~240 V, 50 Hz Country dialing code: +64 Country barcode: 94

Climate

Geography

Flora and fauna

Attractions

• Franz Josef Glacier
• Wai-o-Tapu

In fact, it is difficult to single out any attractions here. The main thing that New Zealand is famous for is its nature, and one vacation is clearly not enough to see all the stunning places.

Banks and currency

New Zealand dollar (international designation - NZD, domestically - NZ$), equal to 100 cents. There are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, 1 and 2 dollars.

Currency can be exchanged at airports, bank branches and specialized exchange offices. Credit cards from the world's leading systems and traveler's checks are accepted everywhere. American Express credit cards are best serviced in specialized offices of this company.

Travel checks are exchanged at the official rate in banks, large hotels and some shops. To avoid additional exchange costs, it is recommended to use traveler's checks in US dollars, pounds sterling or Australian dollars.

Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 16.30.

Useful information for tourists

New Zealanders are very welcoming and friendly people. A foreigner, having arrived in the country, is surprised that complete strangers greet him on the streets. Everywhere you can feel an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility.

The climate also contributes to this: for example, on the Northern Island the coldest months of the year - June - August - are almost identical to April-May in the south of Ukraine.

The crime rate is extremely low compared to any other country in the world, and there is virtually no corruption in the government and government apparatus. By the way: government ministers do not have bodyguards or an accompanying retinue, and sometimes you can meet them in line at the supermarket and discuss issues that interest you. Naturally, access to meetings with ministers is open without hindrance.

Another practical detail - when in New Zealand, you should not offer tips in hotels, restaurants, etc. - they will not understand you.

New Zealand is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean in the Polynesian triangle in the central region of the water hemisphere. The main territory of the country consists of two islands, which have corresponding names - Yuzhny Island and Severny Island. The South and North Islands are separated by Cook Strait. In addition to the two main islands, New Zealand has about 700 islands of much smaller area, most of which are uninhabited.

The largest of them are Stewart Island, the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Island, the Bounty Islands, Campbell Islands, the Chatham Archipelago and Kermadec Island. The total area of ​​the country is 268,680 km2. This makes it slightly smaller in size than Italy or Japan, but slightly larger than the UK. New Zealand's coastline is 15,134 kilometers long.

The South Island is New Zealand's largest island, with an area of ​​151,215 km2. The island is home to approximately one-fourth of the country's population. The ridge of folded mountains of the Southern Alps stretches along the island from north to south, the highest peak of which is Mount Cook, another official name - Aoraki) with a height of 3754 meters. In addition to it, there are 18 more peaks on the South Island with a height of more than 3000 m. The eastern part of the island is flatter and is almost completely occupied by agricultural land. The western coast of the island is much less densely populated. Significant tracts of practically untouched nature with virgin flora and fauna have been preserved here. the western part is also famous for its numerous national parks, fjords and glaciers descending from the slopes of the Southern Alps directly into the Tasman Sea. The island's largest lake is Te Anau (the second largest lake in New Zealand).

The North Island, with an area of ​​115,777 km2, is significantly less mountainous than the South Island and is more convenient for creating settlements and seaports, which is why most of the population lives on it and the largest cities in the country are located here. The highest point in the North Island is the active volcano Ruapehu at 2,797 metres. The North Island is characterized by high volcanic activity: out of the country's six volcanic zones, five are located on it. In the heart of the North Island lies Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. It is the source of the Waikato River, which is 425 kilometers long, making it the longest river in New Zealand.

New Zealand is isolated from other islands and continents by long sea distances. The Tasman Sea, which washes its western coast, separates the country from Australia by 1,700 km. The Pacific Ocean washes the eastern coast of the country and separates the country from its closest neighbors - in the north, from New Calendonia, by 1,000 km; in the east, from Chile, 8700 km; and 2500 km south of Antarctica.

The length of New Zealand's coastal strip is 15,134 km. Territorial waters are 12 nautical miles. Exclusive economic zone - up to 200 nautical miles. The area of ​​the maritime exclusive economic zone is approximately 4,300,000 km2, which is 15 times the country's land surface area. There are up to 700 small islands in the country's coastal waters, most of them located at a distance of up to 50 km from the main islands. Of the total, only approximately 60 are habitable or currently inhabited.

New Zealand's terrain is mainly hills and mountains. More than 75% of the country's territory lies at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. Most of the mountains of the North Island do not exceed 1800 m in height; 19 peaks of the South Island are above 3000 m. The coastal zones of the North Island are represented by spacious valleys. There are fjords on the west coast of the South Island.

Geological structure of New Zealand

The islands that form New Zealand are located in the Cenozoic geocyclinal region between two lithospheric plates - the Pacific and Australian. Over long historical periods, the fault site between the two plates has been subject to complex geological processes that constantly change the structure and shape of the earth's crust. That is why, unlike most islands of the Pacific Ocean, the islands of New Zealand were formed not only as a result of volcanic activity, but also as a result of faults and are composed of geological rocks of different compositions and different ages.

Active tectonic activity in the earth's crust of this region continues at the present geological stage of the formation of our planet. And its results are noticeable even historically short term from the beginning of the development of the islands by Europeans. For example, as a result of the devastating earthquake of 1855, the coastline near Wellington rose by more than one and a half meters, and in 1931, also as a result of a strong earthquake near the city of Napier, about 9 km2 of land rose to the water surface.

The location of New Zealand is historically associated with active volcanic activity on its territory. Researchers suggest its beginning in the early Miocene, and the period of formation of modern zones of increased volcanic activity was completed in the late Pliocene. The largest volcanic eruptions presumably took place during the late Pliocene - early Pleistocene, when approximately 5 million cubic kilometers of rock could have erupted onto the Earth's surface.

At the present stage, the zone of increased tectonic activity and the associated high number of earthquakes is the western coast of the South Island and the northeastern coast of the North Island. The annual number of earthquakes in the country is up to 15,000, most of them small and only about 250 annually can be classified as noticeable or strong. In modern history, the most powerful earthquake was recorded in 1855 near Wellington, with a magnitude of about 8.2 points, the most destructive was the 1931 earthquake in the Napier area, which claimed 256 lives.

Volcanic activity in modern New Zealand is still high and 6 volcanic zones are active in the country, five of which are located on the North Island. In the area of ​​Lake Taupo, supposedly in 186 BC, the largest documented volcanic eruption in human history occurred. The consequences of the eruption are described in historical chronicles from places as far away as China and Greece. At the site of the eruption there is now the largest freshwater lake in the Pacific region, with an area comparable to the territory of Singapore.

Minerals of New Zealand

New Zealand is located on the border of the Indo-Australian and Pacific seismic rings. Their interaction processes, including rapid uplift of mountain ranges and intense volcanic activity over a period of two million years, determined the geology of the islands' land mass.

Despite the diversity of natural resources, only deposits of gas, oil, gold, silver, ferruginous sandstone and coal are industrially developed. In addition to the above, there are extensive reserves of limestone and clays (including bentonite clay). Aluminum, titanium iron ore, antimony, chromium, copper, zinc, manganese, mercury, tungsten, platinum, heavy spar and a number of other minerals are often found, but their proven industrial reserves are small.

It should be especially noted that all deposits and all jade mining since 1997 have been placed under the management of Maori, due to the important historical role that jade products (Maori Pounamu) play in the culture of this people. Proven gold reserves in New Zealand are 372 tons. In 2002, gold production was slightly less than 10 tons. Proven silver reserves in New Zealand are 308 tons. In 2002, silver production amounted to almost 29 tons. Confirmed reserves of ferruginous sandstone amount to 874 million tons. Its industrial production began in the 60s of the 20th century. In 2002, production amounted to about 2.4 million tons.

New Zealand's proven natural gas reserves are 68 billion m3. Industrial gas production began in 1970. In 2005, natural gas production in the country amounted to approximately 50 million m3. Oil reserves are approximately 14 million tons; industrial production began in 1935. Oil production in the country is markedly declining in last years. In 2005, oil production in the country amounted to just over 7 million barrels. Coal production, which had been steadily increasing for many decades, stabilized in the first decade of the 21st century thanks to programs aimed at reducing solid fuel consumption. About a third of the coal produced is exported. Currently, 60 coal mines continue to operate in the country.

New Zealand climate

New Zealand's climate varies from warm subtropical in the north of the North Island to cool temperate in the south of the South Island; in mountainous areas a harsh alpine climate prevails. The chain of high Southern Alps bisects the country and, blocking the path of the prevailing westerly winds, divides it into two different climatic zones. The west coast of the South Island is the wettest part of the country; the eastern part, located only 100 kilometers from it, is the driest.

In most of New Zealand, rainfall levels range from 600 to 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of drier summers.

The average annual temperature ranges from +10 °C in the south to +16 °C in the north. The coldest month is July, and the warmest months are January and February. In the north of New Zealand, the differences between winter and summer temperatures are not very significant, but in the south and in the foothills the difference reaches 14 °C. In the mountainous regions of the country, as the altitude increases, the temperature drops sharply, by about 0.7 °C every 100 meters. Auckland, the country's largest city, has an average annual temperature of +15.1°C, with the highest recorded temperature being +30.5°C and the lowest being -2.5°C. In the capital of the country, Wellington, the average annual temperature is +12.8 °C, the maximum recorded temperature is +31.1 °C, the minimum is -1.9 °C.

The number of hours of sunshine per year is relatively high, especially in areas protected from westerly winds. The national average is at least 2000 hours. Solar radiation levels are very high in most of the country.

Snowfall is extremely rare in the coastal areas of the north of the country and in the western part of the South Island, but the east and south of the island are prone to snowfall during the winter months. As a rule, such snowfalls are insignificant and short-lived. Night frosts in winter time may occur throughout the country.

Rivers and lakes of New Zealand

Due to the special geological and geographical conditions, New Zealand has many rivers and lakes. Most rivers are short (less than 50 km), originate in the mountains and quickly descend to the plains, where they slow down their flow. The Waikato is the country's largest river, 425 km long. The country also has 33 rivers with a length of more than 100 km and 6 rivers with a length of 51 to 95 km.

In New Zealand, there are 3,280 lakes with a water surface area of ​​more than 0.001 km2, 229 lakes with a water surface area of ​​more than 0.5 km2 and 40 with a water surface area of ​​more than 10 km2. The country's largest lake is Taupo (area 616 km2), the deepest lake is Waikaremoana (depth - 256 meters). Most of the lakes in the North Island are formed as a result of volcanic activity, and most of the lakes in the South Island are formed by glacial activity.

The average annual volume of renewable water resources according to statistical data from 1977-2001 in New Zealand is estimated at 327 km3, which is about 85 m3/year per capita. In 2001, river and lake resources were approximately 320 km3, glacier resources were approximately 70 km3, atmospheric moisture resources were approximately 400 km3 and groundwater resources were estimated at approximately 613 km3.

The protection and management of water resources and the water supply system for the population and economic facilities in New Zealand is the responsibility of local governments. The cost of the main production assets of the water management complex is estimated at more than 1 billion New Zealand dollars. Centralized water supply systems provide drinking water to about 85% of the country's population. About 77% of the country's freshwater consumption is used in irrigation systems.

New Zealand soils

In general, the country's soils are relatively unfertile and poor in humus. The most common soil types are: Mountain soil types - making up about half of the country's territory (of which about 15% are devoid of vegetation). Brown-gray soil types - mainly found in the intermountain plains of the South Island (poorly productive for productive agriculture, used mainly as pastures). Yellow-gray soil types are characteristic of steppe regions and mixed forests and are used for active farming. Yellow-brown soil types are characteristic of hilly areas.

Fauna of New Zealand

Long-term historical isolation and distance from other continents has created a unique and in many ways inimitable natural world of the New Zealand islands, characterized by a large number of endemic plants and birds. About 1000 years ago, before permanent human settlements appeared on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exceptions were two species of bats and coastal whales, sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) and fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri).

Simultaneously with the arrival of the first permanent inhabitants, the Polynesians, to these lands, Polynesian rats and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the first European settlers brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the 19th century caused the appearance of more and more new animal species in New Zealand.

The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (brought into the country for the development of hunting), stoats (brought into the country to control the rabbit population), possums (brought into the country for the development of the fur industry). Having no natural enemies in the surrounding nature, populations of these animals reached sizes that posed a threat to agriculture, public health, and brought natural representatives of the flora and fauna of New Zealand to the brink of extinction. Only in recent years, through the efforts of New Zealand's environmental departments, have some coastal islands been rid of these animals, which has made it possible to hope for the preservation of natural conditions there.

Of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are the kiwi birds (Apterygiformes), which have become national symbol countries. Among the birds, it is also necessary to note the kea (Nestor notabilis) (or nestor), kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) (or owl parrot), takahe (Notoronis hochstelteri) (or wingless plume). Only in New Zealand are the remains of the giant flightless birds moa (Dinornis), which reached a height of 3.5 m, exterminated about 500 years ago, preserved. A little later, presumably only about 200 years ago, the largest known species of eagles, the Haast's eagle, was exterminated. wings up to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg. Reptiles found in New Zealand include the hatteria (Sphenodon punctatus) and the skink (Scincidae).

The only representative of insectivores introduced into the country and adapted to the free living conditions there is the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). There are no snakes in New Zealand, and only the katipo (Latrodectus katipo) is a poisonous spider.

The country's fresh waters are home to 29 species of fish, 8 of which are on the verge of extinction. The coastal seas are home to up to 3,000 species of fish and other marine life.

Flora of New Zealand

Subtropical forest of New ZealandThe flora of New Zealand contains about 2000 plant species, with endemics making up at least 70% of this number. The country's forests are divided into two main types - mixed subtropical and evergreen. The forests are dominated by polycarpids (Podocarpus). Thickets of New Zealand agathis (Agathis australis) and cypress dacridum (Dacrydium cupressinum) have been preserved, although they have sharply decreased during the industrial development of forests.

The man-made forests, which cover an area of ​​about 2 million hectares in total, are mainly cultivated with the Radiated Pine (Pinus radiata), introduced to New Zealand in the mid-19th century. Plantings of radiata pine in the Kaingaroa Forest area have created the world's largest artificially grown forest.

New Zealand has the largest number of liver mosses of any country. There are 606 species in the country, 50% of which are endemic. Mosses are widespread, with 523 species currently known in New Zealand.

Of the approximately 70 species of forget-me-nots (Myosotis) known in nature, approximately 30 are endemic to New Zealand. Unlike forget-me-nots in other parts of the world, only two species of these plants in New Zealand are blue - Myosotis antarctica and Myosotis capitata. Of the 187 grass species historically found in New Zealand, 157 are endemic.

New Zealand has an unusually large number of ferns for its climate. Cyathea dealbata (also known in the country as silver fern) is one of the generally accepted national symbols.

Population of New Zealand

As of February 2010, the population of New Zealand is about 4.353 million people. The bulk of the country's population is made up of New Zealanders of European descent, mainly descendants of immigrants from Great Britain. According to the 2006 census, the total proportion of the population of European origin is approximately 67.6% of the total population of the country. Representatives of the indigenous people, Maori, make up about 14.6% of the population. The next two largest ethnic groups, Asian and Polynesian, make up 9.2% and 6.5% of the country's population, respectively.

The average age of the country's residents is about 36 years. In 2006, there were more than 500 people over the age of 100 living in the country. In the same year, the proportion of the population under the age of 15 was 21.5%.

Population growth in 2007 was 0.95%. The crude birth rate that year was 13.61 births per 1,000 population, and the crude death rate was 7.54 deaths per 1,000 population.

The majority of New Zealanders live outside the country permanently (or for long periods of time). The largest New Zealand diaspora lives in Australia (in 2000 the number of New Zealanders living in Australia was about 375,000 people) and in the UK (in 2001 about 50,000 people, with about 17% of New Zealanders having either British citizenship or the right to it receiving). Traditionally, New Zealanders living outside the country maintain close contacts with their homeland, and many of them deservedly rank among the outstanding representatives of their country.

According to the 2006 census, the majority of the population, about 56%, profess Christianity (in 2001 this was 60%). The most common denominations of Christianity in the country are Anglicanism, Latin Rite Catholicism, Presbyterianism and Methodism. Followers of Sikhism, Hinduism and Islam make up the next largest religious communities in New Zealand. About 35% of the country's population during the census did not associate themselves with religion (in 2001 there were 30%).

The total number of Maori is 565,329. Over 15 years (1991-2006), the number of this people in the country increased by almost 30%. About 47% of them are descendants of mixed marriages (mainly with Europeans). 51% of Maori living in New Zealand are men, 49% are women. Of these, 35% are children under 15 years of age. The average age of Maori living in New Zealand is about 23 years. Wherein, average age women are just over 24 years old, and the average age of the male population is just over 21 years.

About 87% of Māori live in the North Island and about 25% live in the city of Auckland or its suburbs. The greatest concentration of representatives of this people is observed on Chatham Island. 23% can communicate fluently in Maori. About 25% do not own one at all. About 4% of Māori have a university degree (or higher). About 39% of the total Māori population have a regular, full-time job.

English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are the country's official languages. English is the main language of communication and 96% of the country's population uses it as such. Most books, newspapers and magazines are published on it, and it also predominates in radio and television broadcasting. The Maori language is the second official language. In 2006, the New Zealand Sign Language received the status of the third official language.

New Zealand dialect in English is close to Australian, but retains much greater influence from the English language of the southern regions of England. At the same time, he acquired some characteristics Scottish and Irish accent. The Maori language had a certain influence on the pronunciation and some words of this language entered the everyday communication of the multinational community of the country.

In addition, representatives of another 171 language groups live in the country. The most commonly spoken languages ​​after English and Maori are Samoan, French, Hindi and Chinese. The Russian language and other Slavic languages ​​are rarely used due to the small population for which these languages ​​are native.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/