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Mountains, Glaciers, and Lakes of New Zealand

Mountains, Glaciers, and Lakes of New Zealand

Mountains, Glaciers, and Lakes of New Zealand...
Although the North Island offers impressive volcanos and mighty Lake Taupo, the South Island is really the place to go for snowcapped mountain scenery and perfect lakes set in idyllic surroundings.

Most of New Zealand lies at least 200 meters above sea level, but the tallest peak, Mt. Cook (3,744 meters), rises among the magnificent Southern Alps, spine of the South Island.

Spectacular glaciers are scattered throughout the landscape--the mighty Fox and Franz Josef are still easily accessible from the main route down the West Coast.

In other areas of the South Island are U-shaped valleys, moraines, and deep lakes left behind by glaciers of the great ice age.

New Zealand's numerous lakes vary greatly in size and depth, many of the largest concentrated in the South Island and fed by glaciers and snow packs of the Southern Alps. Many fast-flowing rivers and meandering streams follow the contours of the land.

Extensive flat plains of rich alluvial soil deposited by these rivers provide plenty of valuable agricultural land; vast gravel plains, such as those found in the South Canterbury region of the South Island, are predominantly used as sheep country.