New Zealand is located in the Pacific Ocean, more precisely in its southwestern part. The main territory of the state is made up of two islands. The North and South Islands of New Zealand are separated by the Cook Strait. In addition to them, the country owns about 700 smaller islands, which are mostly uninhabited.
History
The first European to visit the South Island of New Zealand was Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator. In 1642, he landed in the bay of Golden Bay. His visit cannot be called successful: the people of Tasman were attacked by Maori (indigenous people), who decided that the aliens were trying to rob their plantations.
Europeans, who arrived on the South Island of New Zealand in the second half of the 18th century, found themselves in the thick of the Maori wars. The indigenous population also attempted to attack the Europeans, but suffered serious losses. The British offered the tribes exchange trade, as a result of which Maori guns were paid for with potatoes and pigs.
France also tried to capture the South Island, creating a colony of Akaroa. Today it is a town in which street names are still written in French. The same attempt was made by a private English company in 1840. As a result, British authorities declared the island the property of the British crown.
Over time, Europeans began to make up the majority of the population. The gold rush that began in the sixties of the 19th century turned the indigenous population into a national minority and significantly enriched the South Island, while the North was shaken by bloody land wars between the Maori and the British. According to the Westminster Statute, in 1931 the North and South Islands gained independence.
South Island: Description
The area of the island is 150, 437 km². The largest is the twelfth island in the world. A chain of Southern Alps stretches along its western coast. Here is the highest point in the country - Mount Cook (3, 754 m). Eighteen mountain peaks of the island exceed three thousand meters in height.
There are 360 glaciers in the mountains. The largest of them are the peaks of Franz Joseph, Fox, Tasman. In the Pleistocene period, glaciers descended to the Canterbury Plain (east coast) and occupied most of the current province of Otago. These areas are characterized by U-shaped valleys, dissected relief and very cold lakes with an elongated shape: Manapouri, Wakatipu, Javea and Te Anau. One of the highest waterfalls in New Zealand is Sutherland (580 m).
Almost a third more than the North South Island. South Island (New Zealand) is inhabited by only a fifth of all the inhabitants of the country. Mostly populated eastern - the most flat half. Here, the local population grows wheat and breeds sheep. In addition, fisheries are developed on the coast; the main commercial fish are sea bass and sea language.
Strait of Fovo
This is the place where crabs are caught. The strait is considered the oyster region of New Zealand. In autumn, they collect oysters bluff, which are distinguished by an unusual and memorable taste. They got their name from the southern port of the country, which was founded on the site of the early settlement of Majori.
Christchurch
The largest city of the island was founded in 1848 as an Anglican colony. The status of the city received the first in the country in 1856. Christchurch is located on the Canterbury Plain - it is the country's main agricultural and livestock sector.
Climatic conditions
The climate of the South Island is oceanic. In mountainous areas - quite severe Alpine. Glaciers and snow here do not melt even in summer. Western air currents differ South Island (New Zealand). The weather here is quite changeable even during the day.
The average temperature in January is from +10 to +17 ° C, in July - from +4 to +9 ° C, in the mountains = negative values of the thermometer. From 500 to 1000 mm of precipitation falls on the east coast per year, from 2000 mm on the northwest, up to 5000 mm on the western slopes of the Southern Alps. The average humidity is 75%.
Earthquakes
The South Island of New Zealand is seismically dangerous. In recent years, three catastrophic earthquakes have occurred here. One of them happened in Canterbury in 2010 (magnitude 7.1), it was caused by shifts in the crust of the Pacific Plate. As a result, more than a hundred people were injured, more than half of the buildings in Christchurch and its environs were destroyed and damaged.
A year later (2011), another 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Canterbury. It became a continuation of the previous one. However, its consequences were harder: 185 people died, most of the buildings were destroyed.
In November 2016, another devastating earthquake occurred northeast of Christchurch. It was triggered by the tsunami.
New Zealand South Island Attractions
On this largest island of the country there are many interesting historical and natural attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. Fans of architectural monuments are advised to visit the city of Dunedin, which is considered the Scottish city of the country, in addition, it is often called the New Zealand Edinburgh. It was founded, as you might guess, by immigrants from Scotland. For him, the place of a long-decayed volcano was chosen. The city has a unique relief with many sloping streets and magnificent Gothic buildings.
In another large settlement of the island - Kraichester, you can appreciate the splendor of ancient buildings in the Gothic style and modern buildings made in high-tech style. There are also natural attractions here - a huge Botanical Garden, which covers an area of 30 hectares. It strikes with an abundance of amazing vegetation, including exotic ones.
Among the architectural sights of the island, the Pelorus bridge should be mentioned, connecting the banks of the river of the same name, which carries its waters through a nature reserve with dense beech forests in which fern grows.
Interesting Facts
- Mount Cook in 1851 was named the explorer of New Zealand by captain John Stoker in honor of the famous traveler James Cook, who visited the island in 1769, plotted almost the entire coastline, but he did not see the mountain named after him.
- Norwest Arch is a special weather phenomenon called the Canterbury Arch, because it only occurs on this plain. This is an arc formed by a white cloud in the blue sky. The phenomenon is caused by a warm and very strong northwest wind, better known as noruester.
- In the center of the island on the walls of the caves discovered more than 500 charcoal patterns. Presumably they are made by ancient Maori. Interestingly, the Europeans who arrived on the island claimed that the locals in those days did not know anything about the people who left drawings of people, animals and some fantastic creatures.
- In Dunedin there is Larnac Castle. He is the only one in the country. The castle was built by local financier and politician William Larnac for his first wife. In the construction, English tiles, Venetian glass, Italian marble, valuable species of trees from Rome and Kauri were used. Today, the castle and its surrounding garden have been restored and restored.
How to move live on the island?
Beautiful nature, perfectly clean air, a developed and stable economy, social security and a high standard of living are just a few of the reasons that attract tourists to South Island (New Zealand). Everyone probably dreams of moving here. However, visiting this island kingdom is not so simple. Emigration implies strict compliance with a number of conditions and requirements of the kingdom.
When preparing to move to the South Island of New Zealand for permanent residence, do not trust companies that offer to circumvent the law. In this case, you risk losing money and time. Moving to New Zealand can be carried out by legal means:
- According to the quota for young specialists.
- Through popular specialties.
- For education.
- By investing in the country's economy.
- For family reunion (including spouses).
- Upon receipt of refugee status.
More detailed information on the necessary documents can be obtained at the Embassy of New Zealand in Russia.
