Physically Features
of New Zealand
As
mentioned in my earlier posts New Zealand is a nation of many different types
of geography. Everything from glaciers, volcanic mountains, rolling hills, flat
plains, and rocky coastlines can be found in this small nation. The nation
consist of two major islands, The North Island and The South Island, as well as
many smaller ones that lie off of the coast. The North Island has what is referred
to as a “spine” of mountain ranges running down the middle with rolling farm
lands on each side. The center of the North Island is a huge volcanic plateau.
http://www.advsouth.co.nz/hiking/volcanic_plateau.tour
The
Southern Island is made up of the Southern Alps, rolling farmlands, and the
large flat Canterbury Plains.
New Zealand 10,000 years
from now
New Zealand
sits snuggly between two different converging tectonic plates. The Australian
and Pacific plates are squeezing the island. As a result from the converging
plates, the Southern Alps are growing at an estimated rate of 10 millimeters
per year. It is a safe estimation that in 10,000 years the Southern Alps will
gain roughly 100 meters in height. This growth is not steady since earthquakes
often shake the Island nation causing blocks of land to be propelled upward meters
at a time. The whole island will sometimes shift horizontally due to these
earthquakes. Not all of the New Zealand is rising though, the north-east corner
of the south island is subsiding. It is my estimate that in 10,000 years New
Zealand will look similar to it does today with higher peaks, and the ocean
reclaiming part of the north-east corner of the south island.
New Zealand 1,000,000
years from now
According
to some recent studies done by GNS Science, a New Zealand Crown Research
Institute, New Zealand, while sitting on the border of the Australian plate and
the Pacific plate, much of the Island is located on the Pacific side. While the
Australian plate is constantly moving, the Pacific plate in not moving. This
causes a deformation to the island at a very small rate. According to the current
path of the plates and the average measure of deformation in 1,000,000 years one
can expect to see an extension across the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Strong
contraction on the southern North Island and northern South Island is also
expected. Strong shearing of the Southern Alps is also to be expected in the
next million years. The diagram below is a visual representation of the
deformation that will happen to the Island in the next four-million years.
New Zealand 100,000,000 years from now
The
Earth has changed significantly in be past 100,000,000 years and the same can
be expected for the next 100,000,000 years. Scientists estimate that in the future
the same plate tectonic forces that separated the super continent Pangea, will
once again begin to push them back together. From the movement of the two
plates that New Zealand sits on, it is believable that the Islands will be
pushed North-westward toward the coast of California. Eventually if predictions
are correct all of the continents will meet near the North Pole of the Earth to
form the next super continent. New Zealand will still be ravaged by major
earthquakes and have extreme volcanic activity.
"The most beautiful place in the world"
That quote from an old professor is how I will always think of New Zealand. In today's world the island nation can easily boast its beauty. I am confident that in the next 100,000,000 years the islands of this nation will change immensely, but the natural beauty will remain. It is easy to see why Peter Jackson picked this to be the filming place for the Lord of the Rings. Perhaps The Shire (rolling foothills, and vast plains) will seize to exist. But the mighty mountain ranges will still survive. New ranges might even form. Who knows, perhaps in 100,000,000 million years a single "Lonely Mountain" will stand somewhere in what was once New Zealand. Either way, this nation will remain a place of beauty and wonder.
"The most beautiful place in the world"
That quote from an old professor is how I will always think of New Zealand. In today's world the island nation can easily boast its beauty. I am confident that in the next 100,000,000 years the islands of this nation will change immensely, but the natural beauty will remain. It is easy to see why Peter Jackson picked this to be the filming place for the Lord of the Rings. Perhaps The Shire (rolling foothills, and vast plains) will seize to exist. But the mighty mountain ranges will still survive. New ranges might even form. Who knows, perhaps in 100,000,000 million years a single "Lonely Mountain" will stand somewhere in what was once New Zealand. Either way, this nation will remain a place of beauty and wonder.
(Happy Hobbit release month!)
