Viewing page 51 of 170

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[image]]

South Island, New Zealand

image #STS056-101-064
12 April 1993
Hasselblad Camera, 250 mm lens

Background for the teacher:

The image shows glacier-capped Mt. Cook, the highest peak (3754m) in the Southern Alps. The Southern Alps are the mountain ridge running the length of South Island, New Zealand, and are adjacent to the large Alpine Fault. Mt. Cook is the highest snow covered peak in this scene, and lies north of the large blue-green lake (Lake Pukaki). Rivers run off into two prominent lakes, Lake Pukaki, and he turquoise-colored Lake Tekapo.

Glacial runoff from the mountains flows eastward onto a glacial plain, which is largely cultivated for agriculture. Because so much material is eroded by the glaciers and carried by the streams, the drainage is poor; as a result, the streams have the characteristic braided shape shown in this picture. The low sun highlights the shape and relief of the glacial valleys, and the sunglint (sun's reflection) off the rivers and lakes highlights the complicated drainage patterns.

This is a good image for exploring the relationship among mountains, snow, rivers, lakes and agriculture. 

Possible starting points for student investigations:

•Find South Island, New Zealand on a map or globe.
•Why are the rivers braided?
•Trace one of the rivers back to the snow fields where it originates. Are there multiple sources of the rivers?
•Why are the tops of the mountains white and the bases brown?
•What is the linear shape coming off the lakes? Why isn't it curved like the rivers?
•What is the green area on the right side, and why does it have small green and brown rectangular areas?

Teachers' Guide                      Page 9.22