Rapanui, better known as The Shag Rock or simply "Shag Rock" was a notable sea stack which stood at the entrance of the Avon Heathcote Estuary

Avon Heathcote Estuary

The Avon Heathcote Estuary is the largest semi-enclosed shallow estuary in Canterbury and remains one of New Zealand’s most important coastal wetlands. It is well known as an internationally important habitat for migratory birds, and it is an important recreational playground and educational resource...

 near Christchurch

Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...

, New Zealand. The boating channel into the estuary lies on the northern side of the rock. Although not used as a shipping port, the estuary is accessible to large yachts despite the bar

Shoal

Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...

 and difficult tidal conditions. The rock stood close to the southern shore just above the low tide level. It was a prominent landmark on the road to Sumner

Sumner, New Zealand

Sumner is a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand and was surveyed and named in 1849 in honour of John Bird Sumner, the then newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and president of the Canterbury Association...

 until it crumbled in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The remains are still easily seen from the road and are now being referred to by some locals as "Shag pile" (a pun referencing the style of carpet).

Before the 2011 Canterbury Earthquake

The rock rose about 11 metres above the sea, depending on the state of the tide

Tide

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....

.

2011 Canterbury Earthquake

It crumbled during the 6.3 earthquake of 22 February 2011, which reduced its height.

External links

• Flickr, "shag rock is GONE!" (accessed 2011-02-25)