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[[image]] National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space Shuttle Earth View South Island, New Zealand


South Island, New Zealand

This 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 the 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?


South Island, New Zealand
April 12, 1993
Hasselblad Camera, 250 mm lens