Story: West Coast region

The Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault

This view of the northern part of the South Island, taken from a satellite, clearly shows the Alpine Fault in the centre. The eastern side has been uplifted to form the snow-covered Southern Alps. All the major rivers on the West Coast start in the mountains, and carry a huge load of sediment downstream, which is gradually extending the coastline to the west.

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NASA-Johnson Space Center
Reference: International Space Station Crew Earth Observations Experiment and the Image Science & Analysis Group, ISS006-E-39488

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan, 'West Coast region - Geology and landscapes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21055/the-alpine-fault (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan, updated 1 Sep 2016