The nature of New Zealand is the one and only, bright and colorful, bewitching and impressive. This is one of those places on the planet where the beauties of nature have been sculpted for centuries slowly, with feeling and sense, honing every part of the territory of this unimaginably beautiful corner of the earth.
General information
When in New Zealand, you should definitely visit the highest mountains of the Southern Alps and the highest peak - Mount Cook. Its Maori name is Aoraki, which translates as "big white cloud".
For the first time, this peak was conquered by enthusiasts from the town of Waimate, located not far from this area. This was in 1894. It was in these mountains that Sir Edmund Hillary tried his hand more than 50 years ago before his ascent to the greatest mountain Everest.
The image of the mountain is on an 1898 stamp issued in the country in 1898.
Description
Mount Cook(see photo in the article) is composed of crystalline rocks. Its top, covered with glaciers and snow, has the shape of a saddle. The famous Tasman Glacier, which is the largest in New Zealand, stretches here. It stretches for 29 kilometers, and the area is 156.5 square meters. meters. Up to 7600 mm of precipitation falls annually in the mountains. Rainforests and picturesque alpine meadows, characteristic of a temperate climate, grow on the lower slopes. Many endemic species of trees and plants grow in these places.
The mountain is part of the national park of the same name, on the territory of which there are more than 140 peaks with heights exceeding 2000 meters. The summit got its name in honor of James Cook.
Where is Mount Cook? This is the territory of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, namely, the western part of the South Island near its western coast. The mountain belongs to the Canterbury region. This is Mount Cook National Park. The height of the peak is 3724 meters above sea level.
The legend of the origin of the mountain
Mount Cook (New Zealand) is sacred to the Maori people. It is not surprising that there is a beautiful legend about her. She tells that one day the sons of Rangi and Papa (in Maori mythology - mother earth and father sky) - Aoraki and his three brothers went on a journey. When their waka was stranded on a reef, it listed. In order not to drown, the brothers moved to the bow of the ship, but the icy wind turned everything into stones.
Waka turned out to be an island, and the brothers became mountain peaks. Due to the fact that Aoraki wasamong them the highest, he became the highest peak with the name "mountain Aoraki". The island was named Te Waka Aoraki.
About the name of the mountain
John Lorth Stokes (captain), who was doing research in New Zealand, renamed the mountain in the English way. It was named Mount Cook in memory of the famous discoverer and explorer James Cook.
However, in 1998, according to the law of the New Zealand government, its old name was included in the name of the peak, and the mountain was renamed again. It became known as Aoraki/Mount Cook. This turned out to be the only time that the Maori name became a priority, which clearly demonstrates the success of the Maori people in the struggle for their own cultural heritage.
First ascents
In 1894, the first ascent was made by New Zealanders James Clark, Tom Fife and George Graham. Subsequently, the mountain was conquered by Matthias Zurbrigen (Switzerland), and since then this peak has attracted more and more climbers.
Today, under the guidance of experienced instructors, anyone can climb the mountain, even without special training.
Tourism
These places are a paradise for many fans of skiing and climbers. They are also ideal for trekking lovers.
To spend your holidays in this wonderful place, you can get a job at the tourist center, located in a village called Aoraki / Mount Cook. It is located 7 kilometers from the Tasman Glacier Mountains. Cook. Here you can find accommodation for every taste, as well as a lot of options for interesting leisure activities: sightseeing flights by helicopters (including landing on a glacier), horseback riding, fishing, and more. etc. Most of the popular hiking trails through the famous Mount Cook National Park begin from this place.
Interesting facts
- The Great Soviet Encyclopedia indicates the height of the peak of Aoraki (Mount Cook), equal to 3764 meters (absolute mark). However, this is not a measurement error. In mid-December 1991, huge masses of rocks, ice and snow (more than 10 million m³) came down from the mountain, as a result of which its height decreased by 10 meters and became equal to 3754 meters.
- Contrary to popular belief, the first European to discover the mountain was not Cook, but Abel Tasman. This was in 1642.
In closing
All mountain peaks play an important role in the ancestral cult of the Ngai-tahu people. Climbing these mountains for the indigenous peoples is forbidden and offensive to their ancestors. And recently, due to the popularity of New Zealand among fans of various extreme sports, Ngai-tahu can only quietly watch how this sacred land for them turns into a place of entertainment for many newcomers from the West.
