Southern Alps
TheSouthern Alps(Maori:Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana) are a range of mountains that run the length of theSouth IslandofNew Zealand.This mountain range has been likened to theAlpsof Europe. The highest peak isAoraki Mount Cookat 3,724 metres (12,218ft).
Many of the highest peaks are permanently covered with snow and ice and there are several glaciers, including the often visitedFranz JosefandFoxon theWest Coast.
Other destinations
editUnderstand
editThe Southern Alps play a significant part in determining New Zealand's weather. The high mountain ranges act like a dam to the wind, forcing weather systems to flow over or around the mountain ranges. The prevailing westerly winds mean theWest Coastand mountains have a high rainfall, while theEast Coastis baked by a hot drynor'wester.When the wind blows from the south, the East Coast receives rain, and snow in winter, while the West Coast will have sunny skies.
Southwesterly storms become particularly hard to forecast as a few degrees difference in the storm path is all it takes to have a nor'wester or southerly storm. This leads to weather that can change rapidly and forecasts that may evolve during the day. While New Zealand weather forecasts are reasonably reliable they do change over the day. There are special mountain forecasts that should be monitored when travelling in the mountains. Travellers in New Zealand generally, but in the Southern Alps in particular, should be prepared for any type of weather as it is possible to experience four seasons in one day.
The Southern Alps also play a significant part in sizing the geography of New Zealand. What would be consideredmountainsin some other parts of the world are considered merehillsin New Zealand, compared to the Southern Alps.
Get in
editGet around
editSee
edit- Native rainforests
- Fiords
- Glaciers
- Lakes, some with mirror-like reflections
- Mountains
- Rain
- Waterfalls
Do
edit- Flightseeing
- Mountain climbing
- Skiing
- Tramping (hiking)