Takaka Hill
Encyclopedia
Takaka Hill is a range of hills located in the northwest of the South Island
of New Zealand
. Made of marble
which has weathered into many strange forms and with numerous sink holes, it is typical karst
country.
There is only one road winding over and around the flanks of Takaka Hill, following the valleys of the Takaka River
to the northwest and the Riwaka River
to the southeast.
It rises to 791 metres at its highest point and separates the coastal communities of Golden Bay
from those of the more populous Tasman Bay
to the southeast and because of its winding nature isolates Golden Bay from the rest of the South Island.
Takaka Hill is notable for its marble quarry
and for many cave
s, including Ngarua Caves which are open to the public and feature deposits of moa
bones. Harwood's Hole, at one time the deepest cave in New Zealand, is also to be found on Takaka Hill.
Takaka Hill, as many other areas in and around the Golden Bay
, has also been the location for many scenes filmed for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
.
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...
. Made of marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
which has weathered into many strange forms and with numerous sink holes, it is typical 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...
country.
There is only one road winding over and around the flanks of Takaka Hill, following the valleys of the Takaka River
Takaka River
The Takaka River lies in the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. It runs north for 70 kilometres, entering Golden Bay near the town of Takaka....
to the northwest and the Riwaka River
Riwaka River
The Riwaka River is located in the Nelson region in the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. It flows for 20 kilometres, entering Tasman Bay close to the town of Riwaka, 10 kilometres north of Motueka....
to the southeast.
It rises to 791 metres at its highest point and separates the coastal communities of Golden Bay
Golden Bay
Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity...
from those of the more populous Tasman Bay
Tasman Bay
Tasman Bay is a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the centre of the island's northern coast, it stretches along of coastline and is across at its widest point. It is an arm of the Tasman Sea, lying on the western approach to Cook Strait.At the bay's...
to the southeast and because of its winding nature isolates Golden Bay from the rest of the South Island.
Takaka Hill is notable for its marble quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
and for many 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, including Ngarua Caves which are open to the public and feature deposits of moa
Moa
The moa were eleven species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis novaezelandiae, reached about in height with neck outstretched, and weighed about ....
bones. Harwood's Hole, at one time the deepest cave in New Zealand, is also to be found on Takaka Hill.
Takaka Hill, as many other areas in and around the Golden Bay
Golden Bay
Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity...
, has also been the location for many scenes filmed for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
.