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Southern Alps - Quiz
Contributed by: Fernandes
  • 1. What geological plates interact along the boundary where the Southern Alps are located?
A) The North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate
B) The Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate
C) The Eurasian Plate and the African Plate
D) The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate
  • 2. Over how many years has the uplift of the Southern Alps been most rapid?
A) 45 million years
B) 20 million years
C) 5 million years
D) 10 million years
  • 3. What type of motion is predominant along the Alpine Fault?
A) Dip-slip
B) Vertical
C) Transverse (strike-slip)
D) Rotational
  • 4. Where does significant dip-slip occur on the plate boundary near New Zealand?
A) In the Hikurangi Trough and Kermadec Trench
B) In the South Island's central valley
C) At the Southern Alps' summit
D) Along the Alpine Fault
  • 5. What discovery was made beneath Whataroa in 2017?
A) Extreme hydrothermal activity
B) Rare minerals
C) Ancient fossils
D) Large oil reserves
  • 6. Approximately what percentage of New Zealand's plant species are found above the treeline in alpine habitats?
A) 75%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 10%
  • 7. Which conifer is adapted to alpine conditions in the Southern Alps?
A) Douglas fir
B) Spruce
C) Pine
D) Snow tōtara (Podocarpus nivalis)
  • 8. Which bird is endemic to the Southern Alps and can be found in beech forests?
A) Andean condor
B) Alpine swift
C) Rocky mountain partridge
D) Great spotted kiwi (Apteryx haastii)
  • 9. What unique adaptation does the mountain stone wētā have for surviving alpine conditions?
A) It burrows into snow
B) It migrates to lower elevations
C) It can freeze solid over winter
D) It hibernates underground
  • 10. Which bird is the world's only alpine parrot?
A) Rock ptarmigan
B) Snowy owl
C) Mountain finch
D) Kea
  • 11. What are some of the introduced animals that threaten indigenous plant life in the Southern Alps?
A) Lions, elephants, and giraffes
B) Kangaroos, dingoes, and emus
C) Red deer, chamois, and Himalayan tahr
D) Wolves, foxes, and raccoons
  • 12. Which national park is not mentioned as a protected area for the Southern Alps?
A) Fiordland National Park
B) Mount Aspiring National Park
C) Westland Tai Poutini National Park
D) Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
  • 13. What is the Māori name for the Southern Alps?
A) Tasman / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
B) Aoraki / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
C) Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
D) Fiordland / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
  • 14. What does the Māori name 'Kā Tiritiri o te Moana' translate to in English?
A) The High Mountains
B) Land Uplifted High
C) The Mirage of the Ocean
D) Chain of Mountains
  • 15. Who is believed to have named the Southern Alps in 1770?
A) Māui
B) Ngāi Tahu
C) James Cook
D) Abel Tasman
  • 16. Which peak is the highest in New Zealand?
A) Aoraki / Mount Cook
B) Mount Dampier
C) Mount Tasman
D) Mount Sefton
  • 17. Which pass is not a major crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand's road network?
A) Lewis Pass
B) Haast Pass
C) Arthur's Pass
D) Milford Pass
  • 18. What type of natural feature is Lake Coleridge?
A) A glacial lake
B) A volcanic crater
C) A saltwater lagoon
D) An artificial reservoir
  • 19. Which settlement is known as a spa near Lewis Pass?
A) Mount Cook Village
B) Arthur's Pass
C) Maruia Springs
D) Haast
  • 20. What type of climate does New Zealand have?
A) Tropical rainforest
B) Arid desert
C) Polar tundra
D) Humid maritime, temperate
  • 21. How do the Southern Alps affect the prevailing westerly winds?
A) They block all wind from reaching inland areas.
B) They create excellent wave soaring conditions for glider pilots.
C) They cause constant fog throughout the year.
D) They have no significant effect on the winds.
  • 22. Which town is known for its excellent gliding conditions?
A) Omarama
B) Auckland
C) Queenstown
D) Christchurch
  • 23. What weather pattern involves an arch of cloud forming over the mountains?
A) Cyclonic storm
B) Nor'west arch
C) Rain shadow effect
D) Föhn wind
  • 24. Which type of wind is similar to Canada's Chinook and occurs in New Zealand?
A) Santa Ana winds
B) Haboob
C) 'Nor'wester'
D) Mistral wind
  • 25. What aids the growth of glaciers above the snow line?
A) High precipitation
B) Low temperatures alone
C) Volcanic activity
D) Strong winds
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