Granity

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Granity is a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, located 30 kilometres north of Westport on the road to Karamea.

Lying in lush forested countryside between the Tasman Sea to the west and steep mountains to the east, the town is the largest in this sparsely populated part of New Zealand. Long known as a coal mining town, the population has declined as the industry has waned, and now stands at about 240. Several neighbouring towns, such as Denniston, have become virtually ghost towns.

The name Granity was given to the town by gold prospectors, in reference to the large quantity of granite in the area.

[edit] References

• Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4. 

[edit] External links

• Granity website

Coordinates: 41°38′S, 171°51′E