Paparoa National Park
Encyclopedia
Paparoa National Park is on the west coast of the South Island
of New Zealand
.
It was established in 1987 and encompasses 306 km². The park ranges from on or near the coastline to the peak of the Paparoa Ranges
. A separate section of the park is to the north and is centered at Ananui Creek.
The park protects a limestone
karst
area. The park contains several cave
s, one of which is a commercial tourist attraction. The majority of the park is forested with a wide variety of vegetation.
The park was the site of the 1995 Cave Creek disaster
where a scenic overlook collapse killed fourteen people.
The small village of Punakaiki
lies on the edge of the park.
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It was established in 1987 and encompasses 306 km². The park ranges from on or near the coastline to the peak of the Paparoa Ranges
Paparoa Ranges
The Paparoa Range is a mountain range in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located along the coast between the Buller and Grey Rivers, with the Inangahua River to the east. Some of the range is protected as the Paparoa National Park...
. A separate section of the park is to the north and is centered at Ananui Creek.
The park protects a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
area. The park contains several cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s, one of which is a commercial tourist attraction. The majority of the park is forested with a wide variety of vegetation.
The park was the site of the 1995 Cave Creek disaster
Cave Creek disaster
The Cave Creek disaster was an event in which 14 people died when a scenic viewing platform collapsed. It occurred in Paparoa National Park on New Zealand's West Coast, on 28 April 1995. The tragedy resulted in wide criticism of the government and its policies towards funding and management of...
where a scenic overlook collapse killed fourteen people.
The small village of Punakaiki
Punakaiki
Punakaiki is a small community on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, between Westport and Greymouth. The community lies on the edge of the Paparoa National Park....
lies on the edge of the park.