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       Michael A. Stecker 
 
      Home 
       
      You Tube  
      
      "New 
      Zealand 1980" slide 
      show at: 
      My You Tube  
      
      "New 
      Zealand South Island, 1980" slide 
      show at: 
      You Tube "God 
      Defend New Zealand Time-lapse Scenic" video at: 
      New Zealand Pages: The South Island is 
      more mountainous than the North. This is especially evident along almost 
      its entire length from near its west coast to its center where the 
      Southern Alps are found. Mt. Cook at 3754 meters (12,313feet) is the 
      highest peak. Many of these mountains have glaciers; the most famous are 
      the Tasman, Murchison, Fox and the Franz Josef. The west coast is very 
      moist because of sea winds from the Tasman Sea. Close to the northern 
      section of the Southern Alps is Westland National Park and beautiful Lake 
      Matheson. The most southwesterly portion of the island is Fjordland 
      National Park (discussed and pictured on my Milford 
      Sound and Fiordland National Park Photo Page) which is home to 
      magnificent Milford Sound. The park is mountainous, wet and indented by 
      numerous glacially carved fjords. However, the mountains form a barrier to 
      the moist winds and the lands to the east are drier. Several lakes like 
      Wanaka, Tekapo and Pukaki are found in this region. On the northeast edge 
      of Fiordland lies Lake Wakatipo and its charming lakeside resort 
      Queenstown -- gateway to Fiordland. Along the east coast are the island's 
      cities. In the east-central area, on the edge of the Canterbury Plain, 
      lies the "most English" of New Zealand's cities -- Christchurch. The River 
      Avon flows through its center as well as its beautiful Hagley Park. 
      Further north are the smaller towns of Nelson and Cheviot Hills, Nelson 
      Lakes National Park and the coastal Abel Tasman National Park. Also on the 
      east coast but much further south is the small city of Dunedin which is 
      Scottish in character.  | 
    
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       South Island Photos  | 
    
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