These plains reach their widest point where they meet the hilly sub-region of Banks Peninsula. The Canterbury Plains formed from the erosion of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (an extensive and high mountain range caused by the meeting of the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates) and from the alluvial fans created by large braided rivers. Two dominant craters formed Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbours. The peninsula formed as offshore islands, with the volcanoes reaching to about 1,500 m above sea level. These formed due to intraplate volcanism between approximately eleven and eight million years ago ( Miocene) on a continental crust. Geologically, the peninsula comprises the eroded remnants of two large composite shield volcanoes (Lyttelton formed first, then Akaroa), and the smaller Mt Herbert Volcanic Group. Model of Banks Peninsula, showing the mountainous nature otherwise atypical of the Christchurch area.īanks Peninsula forms the most prominent volcanic feature of the South Island, similar to - but more than twice as large as - the older Dunedin volcano ( Otago Peninsula and Harbour) 350 kilometres (220 mi) to the southwest. Main article: Banks Peninsula Volcano Banks Peninsula has a roughly circular shape, with many bays and two deep harbours.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |