Chatham Island

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Chatham Island
Rekohu (Moriori)
Wharekauri (Māori)

Chatham Island from space.

Map showing location of Chatham Island
Geography
Coordinates 43°54′S 176°29′W / 43.900°S 176.483°W / -43.900; -176.483Coordinates: 43°54′S 176°29′W / 43.900°S 176.483°W / -43.900; -176.483
Archipelago Chatham Islands
Area 920 km2 (360 sq mi)
Country
Demographics
Population about 300
Ethnic groups Moriori (Maori Sub Group)

Chatham Island is by far the largest island of the Chatham Islands group, in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand. It is said to be "halfway between the equator and the pole, and right on the International Date Line". The island is called Rekohu ("misty skies") in Moriori, and Wharekauri in Maori. [1]

The island was named after the survey ship HMS Chatham which was the first European ship to locate the island in 1791.[2] It covers an area of 920 square kilometres (355 sq mi).[3] Chatham Island lies 650km south-east of Cape Turnagain, the nearest point of mainland New Zealand to the island.

Geography

Flag of Chatham Islands

The geography of the roughly T-shaped island is dominated by three features: two bays and a lagoon. More than half of the west coast of Chatham is taken up by the deep indentation of Petre Bay. The island's main settlement of Waitangi is located in a small indentation in Petre Bay's southern sage. Other significant settlements are Kaingaroa on the northeast promontory, and Owenga on the south side of Hanson Bay.

On the east coast is the even larger Hanson Bay, which stretches for the entire length of the island (35 kilometres (22 mi)).[4]

Much of the area between the bays is taken up by the large Te Whanga Lagoon, which drains to the sea to the east, into the southern half of Hanson Bay. This lagoon covers about 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi),[5] and drains several small rivers that rise in the hills at the south end of the island. The next largest lakes are Rangitai and Huro, respectively northeast and southwest of Te Whanga.[6] The central and north part of Chatham Island are mostly flat, with altitudes raging from a few metres on the northeast and center to 50 m on the northwest, but with a few scattered hillocks.[6] The south part is higher, generally sloping down towards north and west; about half of it is over 150 m above sea level. The south coast of the island is mostly cliffs 100 m high or more. The highest point of the island (299 m) lies close to its southernmost point.[6]


Major lakes[6]
Name Alt. Coords
Huro, Lake 43°56′47″S 176°30′41″W / 43.9463°S 176.5115°W / -43.9463; -176.5115
Kaimoumi, Lake 43°45′19″S 176°24′04″W / 43.7553°S 176.4010°W / -43.7553; -176.4010
Kaingarahu, Lake 43°49′25″S 176°22′38″W / 43.8237°S 176.3773°W / -43.8237; -176.3773
Kairae, Lake 43°51′19″S 176°24′03″W / 43.8554°S 176.4008°W / -43.8554; -176.4008
Koomutu, Lake 43°45′00″S 176°25′24″W / 43.7501°S 176.4234°W / -43.7501; -176.4234
Long Pond 43°52′46″S 176°24′51″W / 43.8794°S 176.4141°W / -43.8794; -176.4141
Makuku, Lake 43°50′30″S 176°23′27″W / 43.8418°S 176.3908°W / -43.8418; -176.3908
Marakapia, Lake 43°50′34″S 176°33′14″W / 43.8427°S 176.5539°W / -43.8427; -176.5539
Matangirau, Lake 256 44°04′44″S 176°34′42″W / 44.0790°S 176.5783°W / -44.0790; -176.5783
Omutu, Lake 43°44′35″S 176°14′52″W / 43.7430°S 176.2479°W / -43.7430; -176.2479
Pakauwera Pond 43°44′50″S 176°29′18″W / 43.7471°S 176.4883°W / -43.7471; -176.4883
Pateriki, Lake 43°45′12″S 176°18′33″W / 43.7532°S 176.3091°W / -43.7532; -176.3091
Pukawa, Lake 44°04′04″S 176°33′41″W / 44.0679°S 176.5613°W / -44.0679; -176.5613
Rakeinui, Lake 244 44°05′28″S 176°35′02″W / 44.0912°S 176.5839°W / -44.0912; -176.5839
Rangitai, Lake 43°45′52″S 176°20′46″W / 43.7644°S 176.3460°W / -43.7644; -176.3460
Rotoeka, Lake 43°46′34″S 176°35′40″W / 43.7760°S 176.5945°W / -43.7760; -176.5945
Rotokawau, Lake 43°44′57″S 176°35′16″W / 43.7492°S 176.5878°W / -43.7492; -176.5878
Rotopararoa, Lake 43°48′50″S 176°35′29″W / 43.8139°S 176.5915°W / -43.8139; -176.5915
Rotorua, Lake 43°45′37″S 176°17′30″W / 43.7602°S 176.2918°W / -43.7602; -176.2918
Taia, Lake 43°52′06″S 176°24′19″W / 43.8682°S 176.4053°W / -43.8682; -176.4053
Te Rangatapu 263 44°06′30″S 176°35′18″W / 44.1082°S 176.5884°W / -44.1082; -176.5884
Te Roto 43°49′13″S 176°35′02″W / 43.8204°S 176.5838°W / -43.8204; -176.5838
Te Wapu 43°44′32″S 176°15′42″W / 43.7421°S 176.2618°W / -43.7421; -176.2618
Tennants Lake 43°49′36″S 176°34′18″W / 43.8266°S 176.5717°W / -43.8266; -176.5717
Tuku A Taupo, Lake 44°04′01″S 176°31′32″W / 44.0669°S 176.5256°W / -44.0669; -176.5256
Waikauia, Lake 43°43′04″S 176°37′24″W / 43.7179°S 176.6233°W / -43.7179; -176.6233
Wharemanu, Lake 43°45′12″S 176°24′56″W / 43.7533°S 176.4155°W / -43.7533; -176.4155
Wharo, Lake 43°44′34″S 176°30′16″W / 43.7429°S 176.5045°W / -43.7429; -176.5045
unnamed lake 1 43°47′31″S 176°20′54″W / 43.7919°S 176.3483°W / -43.7919; -176.3483
unnamed lake 2 43°45′24″S 176°14′51″W / 43.7567°S 176.2475°W / -43.7567; -176.2475
unnamed lake 3 43°43′35″S 176°31′09″W / 43.7263°S 176.5191°W / -43.7263; -176.5191
unnamed lake 4 43°48′23″S 176°43′21″W / 43.8063°S 176.7226°W / -43.8063; -176.7226
unnamed lake 5 43°48′23″S 176°50′51″W / 43.8063°S 176.8474°W / -43.8063; -176.8474

Some north and central peaks[6]
Name Alt. Coords
Chudleigh, Mount 188 43°43′26″S 176°34′12″W / 43.7239°S 176.5699°W / -43.7239; -176.5699
Diffenbach, Mount 134 43°46′40″S 176°42′12″W / 43.7777°S 176.7033°W / -43.7777; -176.7033
Hokopoi 151 43°46′38″S 176°39′33″W / 43.7772°S 176.6591°W / -43.7772; -176.6591
Korako 178 43°46′19″S 176°34′50″W / 43.7720°S 176.5806°W / -43.7720; -176.5806
Matakitaki 155 43°48′37″S 176°50′00″W / 43.8104°S 176.8334°W / -43.8104; -176.8334
Maunganui 178 43°46′01″S 176°46′26″W / 43.7669°S 176.7740°W / -43.7669; -176.7740
Motoroporo 112 43°46′18″S 176°37′58″W / 43.7716°S 176.6329°W / -43.7716; -176.6329
Motuariki 125 43°44′21″S 176°37′12″W / 43.7393°S 176.6199°W / -43.7393; -176.6199
Puhina 99 43°41′50″S 176°37′40″W / 43.6971°S 176.6278°W / -43.6971; -176.6278
Rangitihi 149 43°43′16″S 176°34′46″W / 43.7211°S 176.5794°W / -43.7211; -176.5794
Tawirikoko 109 43°47′56″S 176°43′42″W / 43.7988°S 176.7282°W / -43.7988; -176.7282
Some south peaks[6]
Name Alt. Coords
Karore 282 44°06′47″S 176°33′08″W / 44.1130°S 176.5523°W / -44.1130; -176.5523
Maungatere Hill 294 44°03′09″S 176°32′47″W / 44.0525°S 176.5465°W / -44.0525; -176.5465
Oehau 205 44°02′01″S 176°38′07″W / 44.0336°S 176.6353°W / -44.0336; -176.6353
Oropuke 287 44°04′46″S 176°30′36″W / 44.0794°S 176.5099°W / -44.0794; -176.5099
Rangaika 264 44°03′45″S 176°27′23″W / 44.0624°S 176.4563°W / -44.0624; -176.4563
Rangitane 225 44°02′36″S 176°27′21″W / 44.0434°S 176.4559°W / -44.0434; -176.4559
Whakamarino 237 44°01′24″S 176°36′54″W / 44.0232°S 176.6150°W / -44.0232; -176.6150
unnamed hill 299 44°07′12″S 176°34′38″W / 44.1201°S 176.5773°W / -44.1201; -176.5773

Flora and fauna

Chatham Island hosts the only known breeding populations of the endemic and critically endangered Magenta Petrel.

In popular culture

Chatham Island (or "Isle") is featured in the first chapter of Cloud Atlas, the 2004 novel by David Mitchell that was adapted for screen.[7]

See also

References

  1. Government of New Zealand, Dept. of Conservation (1999) Chatham IslandsConservation Management Strategy. Accessed on 2012-07-13.
  2. Steven Hooper (30 July 2006). Pacific Encounters: Art & Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860. University of Hawaii Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-8248-3084-7. Retrieved 17 July 2012. 
  3. "Story: Chatham Islands Page 1 – Overview". web page. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012. 
  4. Ross Curtis (2011). "Chatham Island Wildlife & Landscapes". web page. Ross Curtis. Retrieved 14 December 2012. 
  5. "Te Whanga Lagoon". web page. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Chatham Island, NZ Topo Map. Accessed on 2012-07-14.
  7. Walsh, David (November 2, 2012). "Cloud Atlas: Six stories in search of a genuine connection". Retrieved November 19, 2012. 

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