Stephens Island (New Zealand)
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Stephens Island Takapourewa |
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| Waters | Marlborough Sounds ( Pacific Ocean ) | |
| Geographical location | 40 ° 40 ′ 15 ″ S , 173 ° 59 ′ 57 ″ E | |
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| length | 1.96 km | |
| width | 1.08 km | |
| surface | 1.84 km² | |
| Highest elevation | 283 m | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
Stephens Island ( Māori : Takapourewa ) is a small rocky island at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand .
geography
Stephens Island is located 3.1 km northeast of D'Urville Island , making it the northernmost point of the Marlborough District on the South Island. The island has a length of almost 2 km in a southwest-northeast direction and has a maximum width of around 1 km. The highest point is in the middle of the island and measures 283 m .
history
Stephens Island was first discovered and described by Abel Tasman in 1642 .
fauna
Stephens Island has a unique wildlife. The bridge lizard ( Sphenodon spp.), Which has its largest population on this island with 50,000 specimens , is particularly well known . In addition, one of the most ancient frog species in the world exists here, the Hamilton frog ( Leiopelma hamiltoni ). Many seabird species breed on the island, which is only 184 hectares in size, and the bridge lizards use their nesting caves as shelter. The fate of the Stephenschlüpfers ( Xenicus lyalli ) achieved particularly notoriety . These almost flightless birds were first described in 1894 and eradicated by cats in the following years. Even well-known author TC Boyle (Welcome to Wellville) looked at the extinction of this bird species.
lighthouse
The Stephens Island Lighthouse is located in the north of the island at an altitude of 183 m . The lighthouse itself has a height of 15 m above the site. The light can still be seen at a distance of 33 km.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Topo maps . Land Information New Zealand , accessed May 16, 2019 .
- ↑ Coordinates and longitudes were determined using Goggle Earth Pro Version 7.3.1.4507 on May 16, 2019
- ↑ Debs Martin : Forest & Bird delighted that Stephens Island tuatara will be protected . Forest & Bird , August 28, 2007, archived from the original on May 27, 2010 ; accessed on May 10, 2019 (English, original website no longer available).
- ↑ spiegel.de: Peng, problem solved (accessed on December 31, 2010)
- ↑ Stephens Island Light, NZ. . Australian Lighthouses , archived from the original on January 4, 2006 ; accessed on September 10, 2014 (English, original website no longer available).