New zealand interesting facts about nature. New Zealand - interesting facts
If you have always been attracted and interested, interesting facts about this country will delight you with their diversity - the article contains the most incredible and funny stories from the life of the island nation.
Aborigines and settlers: from the first tribes to the present
Probably the most interesting facts about New Zealand relate to the peculiarities of the settlement of this territory and its modern life.
According to the researchers, the islands of the current state were later inhabited by people - the natives from the Maori tribe set foot on the shores only approximately between 1200 and 1300 AD.
Interestingly, it was discovered for the whole world back in 1642 by the Dutchman Abel Tasman, but for more than 100 years a European did not set foot on these lands - the first to “conquer” the islands were members of the team of James Cook, a navigator from Great Britain. This happened in 1769, after which the land officially passed into the possession of the British crown.
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Now the country is “ruled” by the monarch - this is the Queen of Great Britain Elizabeth II, however, laws are considered and adopted at parliamentary meetings. The Queen ratifies them.
By the way, all this "wonderfully" reflected in the state symbols of the country. In particular, it is one of the three countries that have two anthems - "God save the Queen" and "God protect New Zealand". Canada and Denmark also boast two anthems.
Authorities, well-being and the "women's" question
The following facts about New Zealand will be about women and government. So, it was in this country that in 1893, for the first time in the world, men and women were equalized in the voting rights, and in our time, the state became the first on the planet, where the three highest positions were occupied by representatives of the beautiful half of humanity.
Continuing the topic of authorities, we note that officially the country is recognized as the least corrupt on Earth. It shares the first place in this indicator with Denmark.
The origin of modern New Zealanders was interestingly distributed:
- about 70% have European roots;
- about 16% - immigrants from Asia and the islands of Polynesia;
- and only about 14% are representatives of the aborigines, that is, indigenous Maori.
I wonder what today average age The population of the country is about 36 years old, which makes the state quite young, because the average life expectancy for women reaches 81 years, and for men - 76 years.
Economy
On the islands they give Special attention agriculture and animal husbandry. Especially - sheep breeding. So, it was calculated that for every New Zealander there are 9 sheep! Thanks to this, it occupies the second place in the world in the production of wool. And there are a lot of cars here - with 4.5 million people, there are about 2.5 million personal cars. Only about 2-3% use public transport. Including the railroad. By the way, permission to drive a car is issued upon reaching the age of 15.
natural features
This section contains the most unusual and interesting about New Zealand regarding natural attractions. Indeed, in this country, the preservation of the pristine beauty of nature and environmental cleanliness are treated with special attention.
This is confirmed by the simple fact that in fact a third of the country is nature reserves and nature protection zones. In addition, they are categorically opposed to the use of nuclear energy - on this moment There are no nuclear power plants on the islands. To generate electricity, hydroelectric power plants and geothermal methods are used, that is, by attracting the energy of warm underground sources.
It is noteworthy that the New Zealanders jokingly call themselves "kiwi", but not in honor of the fruit known to us, but in honor of the bird of the same name, which is one of the symbols of the islands. By the way, these birds can't fly. But the same fruit is simply called: “kiwi fruit”.
Note that none of the parts of even the largest islands that make up the country are more than 130 kilometers from the ocean.
Did you know that the largest volcanic eruption in the last 70 thousand years was in New Zealand? True, it happened about 27 thousand years ago and now, instead of a crater, a lake has formed there, which received the name. The cleanest lake on the planet is also located here - this is the Blue Lake.
The proximity of the South Pole has led to the fact that it is here that the most varieties of penguins live. At the same time, there are no snakes on the islands at all.
But next to them there are the smallest species of dolphins - these are Hector's dolphins. They don't live anywhere else in the world. By the way, New Zealand- the only place where the huge snail Powelliphanta lives. She is carnivorous.
architectural features
The capital of the country is - it is the second largest city in New Zealand, but its main feature is that it is the southernmost capital in the world. Wellington is a modern, developed and comfortable city, which has everything for a comfortable life.
The first largest is - it is invariably included in the list of the safest and most comfortable cities for living on the planet.
In the city - the most Scottish, since it was founded by the Celts - there is. Stretching for 360 meters, it is officially recognized as the steepest on the planet, because its angle of inclination reaches 38 degrees!
tourism center
Given all of the above, it should not be surprising that New Zealand is attractive for tourists. So, about 10% of the economy of this state is income from tourism.
Naturally, first of all, fans of "green" holidays come here, but after the filming of the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" and the movie saga "The Hobbit", which were held here, admirers of J. Tolkien's fairy tales, masterfully filmed by Peter Jackson, also go to the islands. By the way, these shootings brought 200 million dollars to the country's budget. A separate position was even created in the Cabinet of Ministers in order to control everything related to films, so that the state would get the maximum profit from them.
Summarizing
Now you know what New Zealand will please you with, we have collected the most interesting in this article. But believe me, there are many more attractions that you must see with your own eyes.
Made popular by the New Zealand rugby team. This, of course, is not all that New Zealand has to offer.
We have collected 10 facts about the Maori country that will surely make you want to immediately pack your suitcase and book a flight:
The land of the long white cloud
In the Maori language, New Zealand - Aoetaroa - means "land of the long white cloud." There are various explanations for this name, deeply rooted in traditional Maori lore, but all of them are somehow related to the idea that the horizon in New Zealand is often covered with long, white clouds and becomes like a long cloud when viewed from space (but it is possible it's just a coincidence).
Where there are more sheep than people
New Zealand is a sparsely populated country. Geographically, it is similar in size to the UK, but has a population of only 4.47 million (compared to the UK's 64 million). And besides, there are far more sheep than people: for every New Zealander, there are approximately 6 sheep - this is one of the highest rates in the world.
Here the beach is close at hand
In New Zealand, it never takes more than a day to get to the beach - in fact, each point of the country is no more than 128 km from the ocean - so you can easily ski and catch a wave on the same day.
Last inhabited territory
Humans first appeared in Africa, then spread throughout Europe and Asia, North America, Australia and finally New Zealand, landing here approximately 800 years ago. This happened tens of thousands of years later than in most regions of the world. It gives a whole new meaning to the word "distant", doesn't it?
This used to be the habitat of a monstrously large bird.
Giant Moa birds lived here, although they are now extinct - they were 3.6 meters high and weighed as much as 230 kg.
This country was the first to grant rights to women
The farthest corner of the planet was also the most progressive. New Zealand gave women rights much earlier than countries like the United States and Great Britain and gave them the right to vote in 1893.
Paradise for nature lovers
When you think of New Zealand, you probably imagine nature. Besides the fact that the country is full of magnificent mountains and beautiful beaches, 3/4 of its territory is actually a nature reserve, which is a guarantee that nature will remain untouched for many more decades.
Kiwi country (people, birds and fruits)
Why do people say the word “kiwi” all the time when talking about New Zealand? It turns out that this is not only the name of the fluffy fruit that you buy in your local supermarket, but also the bird that lives in this country. It also serves as an affectionate nickname for the local population.
The place where the world meets the dawn
A small town called Gisborne is the first in the world to see sunrise above the horizon at the beginning of the year (after which the tilt of the Earth moves this point further north) - this is at a distance of 496.3 km from the International Date Line at 178 ° latitude.
Another Hollywood
Many great films have been made in New Zealand. The country has become a platform for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, King Kong, The Last Samurai and many other cinematic films.
Nestled between Australia and Antarctica, New Zealand is often forgotten in the rest of the world. In fact, it is one of the last significant land masses to have been inhabited by humans. Even the indigenous Maori people settled on the islands only around 1250 AD. Today we will tell you interesting facts about New Zealand that will make you want to be a native of this country!
25. First, as you may have noticed, in New Zealand, kiwi is not considered a fruit. This is either a flightless bird endemic to this country, or the nickname of the citizens of this country themselves. Unlike residents of many other countries, New Zealanders do not take offense when they are called "kiwi"!
24. If you are wondering what the kiwi fruit is called in New Zealand, then know that it is called "kiwifruit"
23. New Zealand was the last of the large land masses, which was inhabited by people.
22. Despite the fact that New Zealand boasts an extraordinary topography, no part of it is more than 130 kilometers from the ocean!
21. Wellington is the southernmost capital city on Earth.
20. According to international surveys, Milford Sound is the best tourist destination in the world.
19. According to the Corruptions Perception Index, New Zealand, along with Denmark, is the least corrupt in the world.
18. Baldwin Street in Dunedin is the steepest street in the world, with an angle of 38 degrees.
17. Despite the fact that kiwi is flightless bird, it is on the New Zealand Air Force logo.
16. The New Zealand government has actually created a Minister for Lord of the Rings films to make sure the country gets as much profit from these films as possible.
15. The length of the "145-kilometer beach" is actually about 90 kilometers.
14. There are more vending machines in Japan than there are people in New Zealand (approximately 4.5 million)
13. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Everest, was a New Zealander.
12. In fact, Lake Taupo is a crater left after the most powerful volcanic eruption in the last 70,000 years.
11. For every inhabitant of New Zealand, there are 9 sheep.
10. It is believed that in the Blue Lake (Blue Lake) - the water in the world.
9. There are no snakes in New Zealand.
8. New Zealand has more penguin species than anywhere else in the world.
7. Auckland consistently makes lists of the best cities to live in the world.
6. Approximately one third of the country's territory consists of protected national parks.
5. Bats are the only land mammals endemic to New Zealand.
4. Since the 1980s, New Zealand has opposed the use of nuclear energy and even today there is not a single nuclear power plant in the country.
3. New Zealand stretches from the subtropics in the north all the way to much colder regions in the south. As a result, it boasts the world's most diverse geography and climate.
2. The northern island has volcanoes, deserts and tropical beaches, while the southern island is covered with plains, glaciers and mountain peaks.
1. "Powelliphanta" is a giant snail found exclusively in New Zealand and is carnivorous.
Today we will share with you curious and interesting facts about New Zealand. In the Maori language, the national Aboriginal language of New Zealand, this country is called "Aotearoa", which means "Land of the Long White Cloud". New Zealand is famous for its diverse landscapes, unique culture and of course hobbits. :)However, there is much more to it that might grab your attention, e njoy it!
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Insane facts about the landscape |
Crazy Landscape Facts |
| Wherever you are in New Zealand, you are never more than 128 km from the seaside. | Wherever you are in New Zealand, you are never more than 128 km from the coast. |
| The length of New Zealand's coastline is 15,134 km, which makes it the 9 th longest in the world. | New Zealand has a coastline of 15,134 km, making it the ninth country in the world in terms of coastline. |
| A third of New Zealand's area is protected by the Department of Conservation. | One third of New Zealand's territory is protected by the Department of Conservation. |
| The approximate length of the legendary Franz Josef Glacier is 11 km. | The approximate length of the legendary Franz Josef Glacier is 11 km. |
| Wellington city is the most southerly capital city in the world. | Wellington is the southernmost capital in the world. |
| The gradient of Baldwin Street in Dunedin is 38 degrees, which makes it the steepest residential street in the world. | Dunedin's Baldwin Street slopes at 38 degrees, making it the steepest residential street in the world. |
| The visibility in Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park is 80 meters, making it the clearest lake in the world. | Visibility at Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park is 80 meters, making it the most transparent lake in the world. |
| Lake Taupo was formed by a volcanic eruption around 186 AD. It is said the eruption caused a dust cloud so large it turned the skies of Europe and China red. | Lake Taupo was formed by a volcanic eruption around 186 AD. The eruption is said to have generated such a large cloud of dust that it turned the skies of Europe and China red. |
| Insane facts about flora and fauna |
Crazy facts about flora and fauna |
| 5% of New Zealand's population is human. That's the highest ratio of animals to humans anywhere in the world. | 5% of New Zealanders are people. This is the largest ratio of animals to humans in the world. |
| The Katipo spider is New Zealand's only native venomous animal. | The katipō spider is New Zealand's only native venomous animal. |
| Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals. | Bats are the only native land mammals in New Zealand. |
| The kiwi fruit is actually native to China. It was named so due to its similarity to the kiwi bird. | The kiwi fruit actually comes from China. They were so named because of their resemblance to the kiwi bird. |
| The ratio of sheep to people is 9:1, which is the highest ratio in the world. | The ratio of sheep to people is 9:1, which is the highest in the world. |
New Zealand. Interesting Facts about New Zealand
Insane facts about the landscape Wherever you are in New Zealand, you are never more than 128 km from the seaside. Wherever you are in New Zealand, you are never more than 128 km from the coast. The length of New Zealand's coastline is 15,134 km, which makes it the 9th longest in the world. New Zealand has a coastline of 15,134 km, making it the ninth country in the world in terms of coastline. A third of New Zealand's area is protected by the Department of Conservation. One third of New Zealand's territory is protected by the Department of Conservation. The approximate length of the legendary Franz Josef Glacier is 11 km. The approximate length of the legendary Franz Josef Glacier is 11 km. Wellington city is the most southerly capital city in the world. Wellington is the southernmost capital in the world. The gradient of Baldwin Street in Dunedin is 38 degrees, which makes it the steepest residential street in the world. Dunedin's Baldwin Street slopes at 38 degrees, making it the steepest residential street in the world. The visibility in Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park is 80 meters, making it the clearest lake in the world. Visibility at Blue Lake in Nelson Lakes National Park is 80 meters, making it the most transparent lake in the world. Lake Taupo was formed by a volcanic eruption around 186 AD. It is said the eruption caused a dust cloud so large it turned the skies of Europe and China red. Lake Taupo was formed by a volcanic eruption around 186 AD. The eruption is said to have generated such a large cloud of dust that it turned the skies of Europe and China red. Insane facts about flora and fauna Insane facts about flora and fauna 5% of New Zealand’s population is human. That's the highest ratio of animals to humans anywhere in the world. 5% of New Zealanders are people. This is the largest ratio of animals to humans in the world. The Katipo spider is New Zealand's only native venomous animal. The katipō spider is New Zealand's only native venomous animal. Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals. Bats are the only native land mammals in New Zealand. The kiwi fruit is actually native to China. It was named so due to its similarity to the kiwi bird. The kiwi fruit actually comes from China. They were so named because of their resemblance to the kiwi bird. The ratio of sheep to people is 9:1, which is the highest ratio in the world. The ratio of sheep to people is 9:1, which is the highest in the world.
New Zealand is a mysterious country at the very end of the world, whose closest neighbor Australia is 1500 km to the northwest.
It's interesting that located on two major islands(North Island and South Island) and approximately 700 adjacent smaller islands New Zealand exists in two time zones, and the climate of this country varies from warm subtropical in the north of the North Island, to cool temperate in the south and in the central regions of the South Island. It's interesting that due to the influence of the ocean, the difference between summer and winter temperatures in New Zealand is no more than 10 degrees.
New Zealand's geography includes spectacular landscapes, including the vast mountain ranges of the Southern Alps (larger than the French, Austrian and Swiss Alps combined), the volcanoes of the North Island region, fjords, glaciers, lakes, forests and vast grassy plains.
It's interesting that the main symbol of New Zealand is its carefully maintained green and clean image. In New Zealand there is no thermal power plant, nuclear power plant, only hydroelectric power plants that work not to the detriment of nature. There are no enterprises of the metallurgical and chemical industries, and 25% of the area is occupied by national parks and protected areas.
It's interesting that about 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent human settlements on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent here, with the exception of bats, whales, sea lions and fur seals.
It's interesting that national symbol New Zealand is a kiwi, a wingless "hairy" bird that lays eggs almost the size of its own body.
The original name of New Zealand is Aotearoa or "Land of the Long White Cloud". Colloquially, New Zealand is also known as the "Wobbling Islands" because of its geothermal activity and numerous earthquakes. The reason for this is that New Zealand is part of the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire". The most active volcano is Mount Ruapehu in the central part of the North Island.
The capital of the country is the city of Wellington. It's interesting that in small Wellington (only 460 thousand people), the number of bars and restaurants per capita SIGNIFICANTLY exceeds the number of restaurants and bars in New York.
The population of New Zealand is about 4,377,000 people (as of 2010) and is a mixture of nationalities and cultures (Europeans -75%, the indigenous Maori population - 15%, the rest are immigrants from Fiji and Samoa, from China, Taiwan , Hong Kong, etc.). New Zealand has two official languages - English and Maori. It's interesting that in no other highly developed country in the world is the language of the aborigines recognized as the state language.
Natives of Polynesia, the first began to populate the deserted islands in the 11-14 centuries. The first meeting of Maori and Europeans took place in 1642, when the ship of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman approached the shores of New Zealand, and in 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, according to which New Zealand became a colony of Great Britain. The same document testified to the respect and guarantee of the rights of the Maori people who have lived here since ancient times. It's interesting that until now, this contract is in force and when hiring, the employer is obliged to check the applicant's understanding of the provisions of Waitangi.
New Zealand gained its independence from Great Britain in 1907. It's interesting that before 1901, New Zealand and Australia were one state.
It's interesting that it was in New Zealand, the first of the democratic countries in 1893, that equal rights were established between men and women and women received the right to vote.
There's a place in New Zealand whose place name is 85 letters long - the longest place name in the world - Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu- which roughly translates as: "The hill where Tamatea with big knees, the conqueror of the mountains, the devourer of the earth, the traveler by land and sea, played his koauau to his beloved."
It's interesting that New Zealand athletes have won more gold Olympic medals per capita than any other country. New Zealanders' favorite sport is rugby. All Blacks national team - won over 73% of their matches over the years. And yet, it was the New Zealanders who invented bungee jumping.
It's interesting that New Zealand has a huge number of cars - 2.5 million for 4.3 million people. Only 2% of New Zealanders use the bus and 1% the train. In addition, it is interesting that the roads in New Zealand are not sprinkled with salt, so cars rust very slowly. Two-thirds of the total number of cars is between 7 and 16 years old. Every sixth car is over 16 years old. In 2005, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce a carbon tax (a tax on the emission of gases into the atmosphere)
It's interesting that According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth considers New Zealand best place for life and dreams to go there!
