Kaimanawa Range
Encyclopedia
The Kaimanawa Range of mountains (often known as the Kaimanawa Ranges) is located in the central North Island
of New Zealand
. They extend for 50 kilometres in a northeast/southwest direction through largely uninhabited country to the south of Lake Taupo
, east of the "Desert Road". Their slopes form part of the North Island Volcanic Plateau
.
The land around the mountains is scrubby and of poor quality to the west, where the Rangipo Desert
is located. Considerable areas of this land are used by the New Zealand Army
for training. To the east, the soils are more fertile, but the land is very rough.
One feature of the Kaimanawas is the kaimanawa horse
, a feral variety of horse which roams free on the ranges. Unlike the majority of mountain ranges in New Zealand, much of the Kaimanawa Range is divided into private land.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
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...
. They extend for 50 kilometres in a northeast/southwest direction through largely uninhabited country to the south of Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
, east of the "Desert Road". Their slopes form part of the North Island Volcanic Plateau
North Island Volcanic Plateau
The North Island Volcanic Plateau is a volcanic plateau covering much of central North Island of New Zealand with volcanoes, lava plateaus, and crater lakes....
.
The land around the mountains is scrubby and of poor quality to the west, where the Rangipo Desert
Rangipo Desert
Rangipo Desert is a barren desert-like environment in New Zealand, located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu, and to the west of the Kaimanawa Range.The Rangipo Desert receives...
is located. Considerable areas of this land are used by the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
for training. To the east, the soils are more fertile, but the land is very rough.
One feature of the Kaimanawas is the kaimanawa horse
Kaimanawa horse
Kaimanawa horses are a population of feral horses in New Zealand that are descended from domestic horses released in the 19th and 20th centuries. They are known for their hardiness and quiet temperament. The New Zealand government strictly controls the population to protect the habitat in which...
, a feral variety of horse which roams free on the ranges. Unlike the majority of mountain ranges in New Zealand, much of the Kaimanawa Range is divided into private land.