Te Wahipounamu
Encyclopedia
Te Wāhipounamu is a World Heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

 in the south west corner of the South 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...

.

Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990 and covering 26,000 km², the site incorporates several National Parks:
  • Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
    Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand near the town of Twizel. Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain and Aoraki/Mount Cook village lie within the park...

  • Fiordland
    Fiordland National Park
    Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,500 km², and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...

  • Mt Aspiring
    Mount Aspiring National Park
    Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.-Geography:...

  • Westland
    Westland National Park
    Westland Tai Poutini National Park is located on the western coast of New Zealand's South Island. Established in 1960, the centenary of the European settlement of Westland District, it covers 1,175 km², and extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to a wild and remote coastline...


It is thought to contain some of the best modern representations of the original flora and fauna present in Gondwanaland,
one of the reasons for listing as a World Heritage site.

External links

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