Mount Cook Range
The Mount Cook Range (Māori: Kirikirikatata; officially gazetted as Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range) is an offshoot range of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The range forks from the Southern Alps at the Green Saddle and descends towards Lake Pukaki, encompassing Aoraki / Mount Cook and standing adjacent to the Tasman Glacier. In 1889, the highest point of the range was 3,763 metres (12,346 feet), but this has since been reduced by avalanches and erosion.
| Mount Cook Range | |
|---|---|
 Mount Cook Range | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Aoraki / Mount Cook |
| Elevation | 3,724 m (12,218 ft)[1] |
| Coordinates | 43°35′42″S 170°08′31″E / 43.5951°S 170.1419°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | After Kirikirikatata, Aoraki's grandfather according to legend[2] |
| Native name | Kirikirikatata (Māori) |
| Geography | |
.png)  Mount Cook Range Location in New Zealand | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Range coordinates | 43°40′S 170°08′E / 43.667°S 170.133°E |
| Parent range | Southern Alps |
The Mount Cook Range (Māori: Kirikirikatata; officially gazetted as Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range) is an offshoot range of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The range forks from the Southern Alps at the Green Saddle[3] and descends towards Lake Pukaki, encompassing Aoraki / Mount Cook[4] and standing adjacent to the Tasman Glacier.[5]
In 1889, the highest point of the range was 3,763 metres (12,346 feet),[6] but this has since been reduced by avalanches and erosion.[7]
Naming
[edit]In 2013, the range was officially renamed Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range as part of a number of name changes within the Mount Cook region, following a 2012 proposal. According to Māori creation myths, Kirikirikatata was the grandfather of Aoraki, both of whom turned into mountains; Kirikirikatata into the Mount Cook Range, and Aoraki into Mount Cook.[8][9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Aoraki / Mount Cook, Canterbury – NZ Topo Map". topomap.co.nz. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Kirikiriatata". Kā Huru Manu. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "The noble mountain Aoraki". New Zealand Geographic. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Mt Cook: A breath of high-country air". Stuff. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Veit, Heinz; Fitzsimons, Sean (Nov 2001). "Geology and Geomorphology of the European Alps and the Southern Alps of New Zealand: A Comparison". Mountain Research and Development. 21 (4): 347.
- ^ Harper, A. P. (Jan 1893). "Exploration and Character of the Principal New Zealand Glaciers". The Geographical Journal. 1 (1): 38.
- ^ "Height of NZ's tallest peak Aoraki/Mt Cook slashed by 30m". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Littlewood, Matthew (2 April 2013). "Dual names accepted in Aoraki-Mt Cook". Stuff. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Maori names proposed for Mt Cook mountain range". RNZ. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2021.