South Island of New Zealand: description, features, nature and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

New Zealand is located in the Pacific Ocean, more precisely in its southwestern part. The main territory of the state consists of two islands. The North and South Islands of New Zealand are separated by the Cook Strait. In addition to them, the country owns about 700 smaller islands, which are mostly uninhabited.

History

The first European to visit New Zealand's South Island was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. In 1642 he landed in Golden Bay. His visit could not be called successful: the people of Tasman were attacked by the Maori (indigenous people), who thought that the aliens were trying to rob their plantations.

Europeans who arrived on the South Island of New Zealand in the second half of the 18th century found themselves in the thick of the wars of the Maori tribes. The indigenous population also attempted to attack the Europeans, but suffered serious losses. The British offered the tribes a barter trade, as a result of which Maori paid for guns with potatoes andpigs.

France also tried to seize the South Island, creating the colony of Akaroa. Today it is a town where street names are still written in French. The same attempt was made by a private English company in 1840. As a result, the British authorities proclaimed the island the property of the British crown.

Over time, Europeans began to make up the majority of the population. The gold rush that began in the sixties of the XIX century turned the indigenous population into a national minority and significantly enriched the South Island, while the North was shaken by bloody land wars between the Maori and the British. According to the Statute of Westminster, the North and South Islands gained independence in 1931.

South Island description

The area of the island is 150,437 km². It is the twelfth largest island in the world. Along its western coast stretches the chain of the Southern Alps. Here is the highest point of the country - Mount Cook (3754 m). Eighteen mountain peaks of the island exceed three thousand meters in height.

There are 360 glaciers in the mountains. The largest of them are the peaks of Franz Josef, Fox, Tasman. During the Pleistocene period, glaciers descended into the Canterbury Plain (east coast) and occupied much of what is now Otago. These areas are characterized by U-shaped valleys, dissected relief and very cold lakes that have an elongated shape: Manapouri, Wakatipu, Javea and Te Anau. One of the highest waterfalls in New Zealand isSutherland (580 m).

Almost a third larger than the North South Island. South Island (New Zealand) is inhabited by only a fifth of all the inhabitants of the country. Mostly populated eastern - the most flat half of it. Here the local population grows wheat and breeds sheep. In addition, fishing is developed on the coast, the main commercial fish are sea bass and sole.

Fauveau Strait

This is the place where the crabs are caught. The strait is considered the oyster region of New Zealand. In autumn, bluff oysters are harvested here, which have an unusual and memorable taste. They got their name from the southern port of the country, which was founded on the site of an early settlement of Majori.

Christchurch

The largest city of the island was founded in 1848 as an Anglican colony. The status of the city was the first in the country in 1856. Christchurch is located on the Canterbury Plain - this is the main agricultural and livestock region of the country.

Climatic conditions

The climate of the South Island is oceanic. In mountainous areas - rather severe alpine. Glaciers and snows here do not melt even in summer. Western air currents are distinguished by the South Island (New Zealand). The weather here is quite changeable even during the day.

The average temperature in January is from +10 to +17 °C, in July - from +4 to +9 °C, in the mountains=negative thermometer values. From 500 to 1000 mm of precipitation falls annually in the easterncoast, from 2000 mm - on the northwestern, to 5000 mm - on the western slopes of the Southern Alps. The average air humidity is 75%.

Earthquakes

The South Island of New Zealand is seismically dangerous. In recent years, three catastrophic earthquakes have occurred here. One of them happened in Canterbury in 2010 (magnitude 7.1), it was caused by shifts in the crust of the Pacific plate. As a result, more than a hundred people were injured, more than half of the buildings in and around Christchurch were destroyed or damaged.

A year later (2011), another 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Canterbury. It became a continuation of the previous one. However, its consequences were more severe: 185 people died, most buildings were destroyed.

In November 2016, another devastating earthquake struck northeast of Christchurch. It was triggered by the tsunami.

New Zealand, South Island attractions

This largest island in the country has many interesting historical and natural attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. Fans of architectural monuments are recommended to visit the city of Dunedin, which is considered the Scottish city of the country, in addition, it is often called the New Zealand Edinburgh. It was founded, as you might guess, by settlers from Scotland. For him, the site of a long-extinct volcano was chosen. The city has a unique topography with many sloping streets and magnificent Gothic buildings.

In another large settlement of the island - Crichester, you can appreciate the splendor of ancient buildings in the Gothic style and modern high-tech buildings. There are also natural attractions here - a huge Botanical Garden, which covers an area of 30 hectares. It impresses with an abundance of amazing vegetation, including exotic ones.

Of the architectural sights of the island, the Pelorus Bridge should be mentioned, connecting the banks of the river of the same name, which carries its waters through a nature reserve with dense beech forests in which ferns grow.

Interesting facts

Mount Cook in 1851 was named by New Zealand explorer Captain John Stoker in honor of the famous traveler James Cook, who visited the island in 1769, mapped almost the entire coastline, but the mountain that is named after him, he did not see.
Norwest Arch is a special weather phenomenon called the "Canterbury Arch" because it occurs only on this plain. It is an arc formed by a white cloud in a blue sky. The phenomenon causes a warm and very strong northwesterly wind, better known as the norwester.
In the center of the island, more than 500 charcoal drawings were found on the walls of the caves. Presumably they were made by the ancient Maori. Interestingly, the Europeans who arrived on the island claimed that the locals at that time did not know anything about the people,who left drawings of people, animals and some fantastic creatures.
There is Larnach Castle in Dunedin. He is the only one in the country. The castle was built by local financier and politician William Larnach for his first wife. English tiles, Venetian glass, Italian marble, valuable species of rimu and kauri trees were used in the construction. Today, the castle and the surrounding garden have been restored and restored.

How to move to live on the island?

Magnificent nature, perfectly clean air, a developed and stable economy, social security and a high standard of living are just a few of the reasons that attract tourists to the South Island (New Zealand). Everyone dreams of moving to live here. However, visiting this island kingdom is not so easy. Emigration involves strict compliance with a number of conditions and requirements of the kingdom.

When preparing to move to the South Island of New Zealand for permanent residence, do not trust companies that offer to circumvent the law. In this case, you risk losing money and time. Moving to New Zealand can be done legally:

According to the quota for young professionals.
Through in-demand majors.
For education.
By investing in the country's economy.
For family reunification (including spouses).
When obtaining refugee status.

For more information on the required documents, please contact the New Zealand Embassy in Russia.

Reviews of tourists

Despite the long distance,separating Russia and the South Island (New Zealand), the reviews of travelers who have visited this country are quite numerous. According to tourists, everything here will be interesting for young people: from cycling to excursions on yachts and boats. At night you can visit nightclubs, during the day you can go fishing, play golf, have a picnic on the ocean.

Satisfied with the rest here and tourists who come with their families. There is something to see for both adults and children. Elderly people can also have a good time here: for them it’s just a paradise: calmness, fresh air, beautiful views, interesting excursions. True, long-distance flights are not always indicated for he alth reasons.