New Zealand
... sq. mi) and Pitt (25 sq. mi). Most of the other uninhabited islands serve as wildlife sanctuaries. This Country has a total land mass area of 103,736 sq. mi which is larger than the State of California or Texas. It also has many gulfs, bays and harbors, with mighty sea cliffs and sandy or pebbled beaches. The North Island is known best for it’s boiling mud pools, simmering lakes, steam vents, and geysers. It also has three active volcanoes, Mount Ruapehu (9,175 ft), Mount Ngauruhoe (7,515 ft) and Mount Tongariro (6,516 ft). There too, is a water-filled volcanic crater that forms Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake (234 sq. mi). Other main rivers are the Waikato, Wanganui, Rangitikei and Manawatu. In the South , the most earthquake prone mountains of the Wairarapa region exist, which extend across the plain to the Cook Strait. There the forest area plunges straight down to the ocean. In the Wairarapa region there are caves consisting of limestone caverns, where glowworms light thousands of aging rock formations. This region is also known for the most productive farmland in New Zealand. New Zealand’s South Island was formed by thousands of years of slow-moving bodies of ice, formed in the Southern Alps, which run down the West side of the island. The center of the Alps forms one of the world’s largest glaciers, which is eighteen miles long. (Tasman Glacier). Many deep glaciers form the rivers and streams of New Zealand. On South Island they include Lake Te Anau (the largest lake) and Clutha River (the largest river). Southwest of the Alps stand the Otago, a region of grassy valleys, hills and deep ravines. In this region there is also the Fiorland, which has great sea-cliffs that extend to the sea. Off the South coast by the Foreaux Strait is Stewart Island, which is known as “the land of glowing skies”, since you are able to see great Summer sunsets and a wonderful view of (Auora Australis) the polar lights from this point. The weather in New Zealand is very opposite the weather we experience here. Spring begins in September, summer in December, Autumn in March and Winter in June. Summer highs on th North Island are around 79`F and Winter lows about 38` F. Although the South Island experiences warmer and colder weather between 86` F and 26`F in winter. New Zealand is known for it’s hydroelectric dams, which were built to generate electricity at a low cost. It is also very rich in mineral deposits of coal and gold, which makes mining very profitable. Their economy is mostly exports, processed foods, minerals, wood, and paper products. New Zealand also produces steel, aluminum,, boats and clothing. For two hundred years the backbone of New Zealand has been raising cattle and sheep. It is a major exporter of wool as well, which is used mostly to make rugs in Great Britain. In 1852 Great Britain gave New Zealand a constitution, and gave them the right to govern itself. However the Queens governor-general stayed in place. The two Queens that are the current monarchs of New Zealand are Queen Elizabeth (Great Britain) and Queen Te Atairangikaahu ( New Zealand). Although parliament runs the government, neither Queen has any real political power, but are respected by all New Zealanders. There are 3.9 million people in New Zealand whom call themselves kiwi’s. Most are of British origin, they are called the “Paheka” which is Maori for “white people”. Only fifteen percent of the population are original Maori (Polynesian tribes that canoed there from 900 to 1100 years ago). English and Maori are the official languages of ...