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![]() About New Zealand |
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Hundreds of millions of years ago, all the earth's continents were connected into one gigantic landmass. Over millions of years, the landmass broke apart along its tectonic plates. (Tectonic plates are large jigsaw-puzzlelike sections of the earth's crust that move slowly over the hot molten rock below.) New Zealand is positioned where two tectonic plates collide and cause the earth's crust to buckle, resulting in earthquakes. The collision can also produce cracks in the earth's surface where molten rock can push its way out and burst with gas and ash, also known as a volcanic eruption. The isolation of New Zealand from other lands allowed the survival of animals and plants from the time of the dinosaurs. Ancient tree ferns, plants that produce spores rather than seeds, and primitive relatives of pine trees still grow in the forests. Among the unusual creatures that still live in New Zealand are flightless ground-dwelling birds and ancient reptiles that have hardly evolved in the past 220 million years. New Zealand is like a Jurassic Ark, containing the last survivors of a time long passed. On his trek, Colin Skinner walked from the North Island of New Zealand to the tip of the South Island, exploring the magical geography and wildlife from the top of the Mount Ruapehu volcano, where gas and hot rocks erupt from below the surface of the earth to the weird and wonderful wildlife, like glow worms that live in dark caves. Along the way, he also met Maori people, whose ancestors were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, and learned about their rich culture of songs, art, and spiritual beliefs. Read about Colin's experiences in his field journals and interview transcripts. Check out our New Zealand Web sites to learn more about the country's history, culture, geography, and more! |
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