New Zealand Kiley Taylor Dustin Killpack Allison Even

Formation Sits on boundary of Australian and Pacific plates Subduction of ocean plate, strike-slip of both plates

Along Fire Belt in Pacific Ocean

Cyclones Avalanch/Landslide Hot Springs Earthquakes Volcanoes Geography is very much alive Image: Lake Tekapo and the Alps on South Island. Image: hot spring at Waiotapu Geothermal Area, Rotorua, with steam emerging from the mud at the bottom of the pool.

Last 30 Earthquakes Late September Yesterday at 6:47 AM

Volcano Activity (0-5 scale) Volcanic Alert Level Summary VolcanoAlert Level Auckland Volcanic Field 0 Kermadec Islands0 Mayor Island0 Ngauruhoe1 Northland0 Okataina0 Rotorua0 Ruapehu1 Taranaki/Egmont0 Taupo0 Tongariro0 White Island1

South Island Island

NORTH ISLAND MORE POPULATED Warm, Sub-Tropical Scenery Ranges from  Sandy Beaches to… Forest  to….  Rolling Farmland to….  Volcanic peaks

SOUTH ISLAND Is the largest island in New Zealand Much more mountainous Most scenic Island with its glaciers and forest

Landscape

As A Whole Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands--the North Island and the South Island. In addition, Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore. The North Island has a 'spine' of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area. The massive Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains

Sandy Beaches…. New Zealand has over 15,000 kilometres of beautiful and varied coastline. In the far north and on most of the east coast of the North Island you'll find long sandy beaches perfect for swimming, surfing and sunbathing. The North Island's west coast has dark sandy beaches, with sand heavy in iron. The north of the South Island has some beautiful sandy beaches, while the coastline around the rest of the South Island tends to be wilder and more rugged.

Mountains…. About a fifth of the North Island and two-thirds of the South Island are mountains. The existence of a 'spine' of mountain ranges throughout New Zealand is also due to the movement of the earth's tectonic plates. Stretching from the north of the North Island to the bottom of the South, these mountains are caused by the collision of the Australian and Pacific Plates. Over millions of years, alluvial deposits (eroded from the mountains by rivers) formed the vast Canterbury Plains in the South Island and a number of smaller plains in the North. These alluvial plains contain some of New Zealand's most fertile and productive farmland. Mountain range on the south island The Milford Sound

Glaciers….. New Zealand's Southern Alps have a number of glaciers, the largest being Tasman glacier, which you can view by taking a short walk from Mount Cook village. New Zealand's most famous glaciers are the Franz Josef and Fox on the South Island's west coast. Gouged out by moving ice over thousands of years, these spectacular glaciers are easily accessible to mountaineers and hikers. You can walk up to the glaciers or do a heli-hike--fly up by helicopter and walk down. Franz Josef Glacier on the southern Alps

Milford Sound…. Mitre Peak overlooks one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand-- Milford Sound in Fiordland. Over thousands of years, the process of subduction has seen parts of the New Zealand landscape become submerged. The Marlborough Sounds and Fiordland are examples of high mountain ranges that have 'sunk' into the sea, creating spectacular sounds and fiords. These areas provide some of New Zealand most picturesque scenery, with steep lush hills plunging down to the deep still bays below. Clear, deep still water surrounded by beautiful bush makes these areas ideal for boating and kayaking. This Could be you

Citations one-big-volcano/ ire.gif newzealand.govt.nz/aboutnz zealand/geography.html