Physical Geography of New Zealand Quiz

Answer: White Island

White Island off the coast of Dunedin is a small uninhabited island. It is 80m long, 30m wide and rises to a elevation of 15 m. It is 2500 metres off the coast and is clearly visible from Dunedin's main beaches St Clair and St Kilda. It is also know to some as Ragged Rock due to a jagged appearance. It was used during the threat of Russian invasion as a target for artillery which may have made it smaller and more jagged than before.

The other White Island is New Zealand's most active volcano. It was active when fist seen by Captain James Cook in the late 1700's and still is.

Answer: Waikato River

The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand at 425km long. Its origin is Lake Taupo a caldera of one of the world's largest ever volcanic eruptions. It is New Zealand's largest lake.

Answer: Lake Matheson

Lake Matheson is on the West Coast perfectly located to give almost mirror-like reflections of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. Leaching of organic matter from the nearby forest floor cause Lake Matheson to have brown water, just right for reflecting the mountains on a calm day.

Answer: Banks Peninsula

His map was quite accurate, with just a few flaws one of which was suspecting Banks Peninsula to be an island, instead of part of South Island's eastern coast. Another was suspecting that Stewart Island, New Zealand's third largest, was connected to South Island.

Answer: Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault runs southwest to northeast along the western side of South Island. As the two tectonic plates grind against each other it causes uplift creating over millions of years mountains. When immense stress builds up and it suddenly releases, earthquakes occur. The Alpine Fault has caused many large earthquakes.

Answer: The Elephant

The Elephant is the end of a hanging valley created during the last period of glaciation. At the end falling into Milford Sound are the Stirling Falls that are 151m high, three times as high as Niagara Falls. They are called wai manu in Maori meaning cloud on the water.

Answer: Quarantine Island

Of the three islands in Otago Harbour, Quarantine Island is the largest and is thought to be the plug to the extinct Dunedin Volcano. The ruins of the quarantine barracks are on it still. It is frequented by visitors whose only access is by boat. Goat Island is much smaller and Pudding Island even smaller still and can be reached on foot at low tide.

Answer: Codfish Island

Codfish Island is a predator-free bird sanctuary for some of New Zealand's rarest bird species. The flightless Weka and the world's heaviest parrot the Kakapo, also flightless, are residents of Codfish Island. Kakapo population is less than 200 individuals and the Department of Conservation are making their best efforts to ensure breeding of Kakapo.

Answer: Earthquake

An earthquake took place in the area now known as Rongotai some time between 1600 and 1773. The sea bed rose enough that the channel between the two areas of land either side could be crossed by wading at low tide. In 1855 an earthquake lifted the area where the airport is now located high enough that it was above sea level.

Answer: Foehn

The Foehn wind is when air rises to the top of the Southern Alps cooling. As it crests and descends the eastern side it picks up speed and heat causing strong hot winds. As the moist air ascends of the windward (west) side of the Southern Alps, it gets to a point where the moisture condenses causing precipitation.

The air then goes over the top of the mountain barrier and as it gets lower in elevation it heats up. Temperature can climb 15 degrees Celsius warmer in minutes.