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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 Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate
B) The North American Plate and the Caribbean 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) 5 million years
B) 45 million years
C) 10 million years
D) 20 million years
  • 3. What type of motion is predominant along the Alpine Fault?
A) Transverse (strike-slip)
B) Rotational
C) Vertical
D) Dip-slip
  • 4. Where does significant dip-slip occur on the plate boundary near New Zealand?
A) Along the Alpine Fault
B) At the Southern Alps' summit
C) In the Hikurangi Trough and Kermadec Trench
D) In the South Island's central valley
  • 5. What discovery was made beneath Whataroa in 2017?
A) Large oil reserves
B) Ancient fossils
C) Rare minerals
D) Extreme hydrothermal activity
  • 6. Approximately what percentage of New Zealand's plant species are found above the treeline in alpine habitats?
A) 50%
B) 75%
C) 10%
D) 25%
  • 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) Rocky mountain partridge
C) Alpine swift
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) Kangaroos, dingoes, and emus
B) Lions, elephants, and giraffes
C) Wolves, foxes, and raccoons
D) Red deer, chamois, and Himalayan tahr
  • 12. Which national park is not mentioned as a protected area for the Southern Alps?
A) Westland Tai Poutini National Park
B) Mount Aspiring National Park
C) Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
D) Fiordland National Park
  • 13. What is the Māori name for the Southern Alps?
A) Tasman / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
B) Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
C) Aoraki / 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) Chain of Mountains
D) The Mirage of the Ocean
  • 15. Who is believed to have named the Southern Alps in 1770?
A) Māui
B) Abel Tasman
C) James Cook
D) Ngāi Tahu
  • 16. Which peak is the highest in New Zealand?
A) Mount Tasman
B) Mount Sefton
C) Mount Dampier
D) Aoraki / Mount Cook
  • 17. Which pass is not a major crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand's road network?
A) Haast Pass
B) Milford Pass
C) Lewis Pass
D) Arthur's Pass
  • 18. What type of natural feature is Lake Coleridge?
A) A saltwater lagoon
B) A volcanic crater
C) An artificial reservoir
D) A glacial lake
  • 19. Which settlement is known as a spa near Lewis Pass?
A) Haast
B) Maruia Springs
C) Arthur's Pass
D) Mount Cook Village
  • 20. What type of climate does New Zealand have?
A) Polar tundra
B) Tropical rainforest
C) Arid desert
D) Humid maritime, temperate
  • 21. How do the Southern Alps affect the prevailing westerly winds?
A) They cause constant fog throughout the year.
B) They have no significant effect on the winds.
C) They create excellent wave soaring conditions for glider pilots.
D) They block all wind from reaching inland areas.
  • 22. Which town is known for its excellent gliding conditions?
A) Christchurch
B) Omarama
C) Auckland
D) Queenstown
  • 23. What weather pattern involves an arch of cloud forming over the mountains?
A) Föhn wind
B) Rain shadow effect
C) Nor'west arch
D) Cyclonic storm
  • 24. Which type of wind is similar to Canada's Chinook and occurs in New Zealand?
A) Santa Ana winds
B) 'Nor'wester'
C) Mistral wind
D) Haboob
  • 25. What aids the growth of glaciers above the snow line?
A) High precipitation
B) Low temperatures alone
C) Strong winds
D) Volcanic activity
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