Earthquakes and Volcanoes

New Zealand's landscape today appears green and peaceful, but it is still being shaped by violent geological forces. Millions of years ago, the two main islands (North and South Islands), were formed from parts of Gondwanaland, an ancient continent. Movements within the earth crushed the pieces together and pushed up mountain ranges. They still cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which are usually minor. The last serious earthquake was in 1987. Most of the country's volcanoes are in the centre of the North Island. Mount Ruapehu is the highest volcano and it erupts every few years without causing any damage.

The highest mountains are the Southern Alps, which run the length of the South Island. On the southwest coast there are deep fiords, similar to those found in Norway.

New Zealand is never very hot or very cold because it is surrounded by water. At the top of the North Island the climate is sub-tropical. At the bottom of the South Island, the climate is cool and wet with up to 8,000 mm of rainfall a year.

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