New Zealand is a dreamland. This island country is famous not only for its remote location and the filming location of the Oscar-winning trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" based on John Tolkien's book, but also for its marvelous nature. It's easy to spot rare birds and endemic animals, as well as experience the indigenous culture of these mysterious islands. Now I will tell you about 10 amazing facts about New Zealand.
National reserves account for 30% of the country's territory
New Zealanders have unparalleled natural landscapes. Mount Cook, aka Aoraki, is the highest peak in New Zealand. Its height is 3724 meters. It is always covered with snow, so it turns out beautifully on the pictures.
If you prefer a vacation on the water, then brave the fjord in Milford Sound. This elongated bay is surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks more than 1.5 km high. Intact, dense rainforests grow here practically on the sheer cliffs.
Milford Sound and the area around it is a magically beautiful combination of mountains, forests, waterfalls, rivers and glaciers. There are hiking trails for hikers and a boat ride to see local whales, dolphins and penguins.
There is more than one kind of kiwi
When you are told "kiwi," the first thought in your head is a small green fruit. In fact, the word has three different meanings, including fruit.
What other meanings can this name have? You would never guess that "kiwi" is used when referring to the locals. It is their national nickname. It is also the name of a small flightless bird that lives only in New Zealand. The bird inspired the nickname. A fact you may not have known: the kiwi fruit itself does not come from New Zealand, but from China.
The hill with the longest name in the world
Taumatahuakatangi'akatangi'angakoauauauauotamateateaturipukakapikapikimauungahoronukupokanuenuakitanatahu is a hill 305 meters high. It is located near Porangau on the southeast coast of New Zealand. It offers a beautiful view of the countryside. It is popular not for this reason, but because of its name, which consists of 85 characters.
The word in the Maori language (indigenous to New Zealand) reads, "The hilltop where Tamatea, the big-kneed man who rolled, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as the earth eater, played his flute for his beloved". It is certainly impossible to pronounce the whole name, so you can confine yourself to the word "Taumata" if you wish to visit near the place.
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There are five sheep for every inhabitant
Livestock is one of the leading industries in New Zealand. In 2019 alone, there were 37.8 million cattle, including 26.8 million sheep. At that time, there were less than 5 million people living here, which means there were about five sheep for every New Zealander.
But sheep are not the only inhabitants of New Zealand. The country is home to many species of bats and birds, including the aforementioned kiwi. Animals are so abundant that humans make up only 5% of New Zealand's population.
The country pioneered women's suffrage
Throughout the 19th century, New Zealand women banded together to gain the right to vote. In the 1890s, they petitioned Parliament to provide them with a ballot box. On September 19, 1893, the Electoral Act was signed into law, giving ladies the opportunity to vote in parliamentary assemblies. New Zealand was the first country in the world to do this, beating even the United States by more than 20 years.
Since then, they have played an important role in politics. In 2006, all the highest positions in the country were held by women at the same time. This was the first and only case in world history.
Antarctica's neighbor
New Zealand is the third closest country in the world to Antarctica. It has direct control over a small part of the continent. It is also home to many tourism organizations that plan trips there. You can book airfare or a boat trip to see penguins and glaciers.
If you're not afraid of catching a cold, you can find something to do in the city of Christchurch. Their Antarctic Center not only provides information about the explorers, but also allows you to take a simulated cruise.
Three national languages
New Zealand recognizes English, Maori and sign language as the three official languages. Nearly 150,000 New Zealanders conduct everyday conversation in Maori. It has grown in popularity over the past few years. Several bands have released songs in Maori that have been broadcast across the country.
Sign language is known by more than 20 thousand inhabitants. It is very similar to British Sign Language and has many signs in common with American Sign Language. In 2006, after so many years of activity, it was finally recognized as a national language.
The coolest street
It's not just the hill that is famous in New Zealand, but a regular street that is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest street on the planet - Baldwin Street. It is located in the city of Dunedin and is notable for descending at an angle of 19 degrees. The length of the street is 360 meters, which makes it difficult to move along it. But residents and tourists can endure the steep climb.
One local even managed to raise $10,000 for charity by walking up the street on his pogo stick. It is a spring-loaded rod with two handles and footrests.
The cleanest water in the world and volcanoes everywhere
Blue Lake is located in Nelson Lake National Park in the Southern Alps. Government studies have shown its water to be the purest of any fresh water in the world. Visibility is several hundred kilometers down. The lake is a sacred place for the Maori. They used to cleanse the bones of their relatives and release their souls into the underworld.
The city of Auckland alone is surrounded by 50 different volcanoes. Most of them are now dormant, and those still capable of spewing flames do not pose a serious threat.
The island of Rangitoto, which is more than 5.5 km wide, has a volcano 260 meters high. Most of the territory is covered with solidified lava of black color. Special paths with improvised viewing platforms are set aside for tourists on the island. There are signposts, benches and small makeshift gazebos for rest.
Hopefully, these amazing facts about New Zealand have helped you to get to know it better and you have a desire to visit nature reserves or admire the cleanest lake on the planet. New Zealand is definitely worth seeing. Madera Travel specialists will help with selection of a tour to this wonderful country and visa processing.
