Whāngārei Harbor
| Whāngārei Harbor | ||
| Geographical location | ||
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| Coordinates | 35 ° 48 ′ S , 174 ° 25 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-NTL | |
| country | New Zealand | |
| region | Northland | |
| Sea access | Pacific Ocean | |
| Data on the natural harbor | ||
| Port entrance | 2 280 m wide | |
| length | around 20 km | |
| width | Max. 4.6 km | |
| surface | around 105 km 2 | |
| Coastline | around 95 km | |
| Water depth | Max. 30 m | |
| Water depth | 4.4 m on average | |
| Catchment area | around 300 km 2 | |
| places | Whangarei , One Tree Point | |
| Tributaries | Hātea River , Mangapai River | |
| Islands | Limestone Island , Rat Island , Motukaroro Island | |
| Industrial port |
Port Whangarei , Marsden Point |
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| Marina |
Whangarei , Marsden Bay |
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| Jetty | Parua Bay | |
| Photography of the natural harbor | ||
 Whāngārei Harbor , view from Mount Manaia to the west |
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The Whangarei Harbor is a natural harbor in the northern part of the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand .
geography
The approximately 105 km² large and on average 4.4 m deep Whāngārei Harbor is located immediately southeast of the city of Whangarei , which is the administrative seat of the Northland region and to which the natural harbor belongs. The body of water is around 20 km long in its southeastern extension and measures around 4 km at its widest point. The western part, which is located in the north-south extension, extends over around 8 km. The natural harbor with its tributaries, of which the Hātea River and the Mangapai River are the largest, drains an area of around 300 km². When the tide is low, an area of around 55 km² of the port area is still covered with water.
The natural harbor includes Parua Bay and Munro Bay , both of which are located in the northeastern part of the water, and Marsden Bay , which can be found on the southern shore. The largest islands in the port area include Limestone Island and Rat Island .
Before the Whāngārei Harbor flows into Bream Bay on the east coast , it passes the narrowness between Marsden Point in the south and Whangarei Head in the north.
Natural spaces
The landscape of Whāngārei Harbor consists of sandbanks , rocky reefs , tidal channels, gullies and areas, salt marshes and seagrass- covered bank areas as well as mangrove areas, in which mostly sub-grown shrubbery can be found. With its natural landscape, the water is one of the ten most important natural harbors in the country for birds that live in tidal areas.
Marine reserve
In Whangarei Harbor in 2006 were two marine protected areas established. They are controlled and supervised by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Waikaraka
The 227.5 hectare area is located directly east of the peninsula on which the Whangarei airport is located. It consists almost exclusively of mangroves and tidal mud flats and is crossed by four small streams . In connection with the shallow and slowly flowing water, the area provides sufficient and ideal habitat for numerous fish, mussels, crabs, shrimp and lugworms. Different species of fish such as mackerel , kahawai or Eastern Nannygai , temporarily living in the waters. The mangroves also provide sheltered habitat for numerous mudflats and sea birds .
Motukaroro
The Motukaroro marine reserve, which is located on the strait opposite Marsden Point , has a size of 26.2 hectares and is only 1/8 the size of the Waikaraka marine reserve. With its reefs, it has ideal living conditions for three-fin slime fish and nudibranchs . Also pipefish ( pipefish ) and gray mullet ( gray mullet ) are found near the shore. In the marine reserve is the small, 175 m long and 65 m wide island of Motukaroro Island , the south side of which drops 30 m deep into the deep water area of the natural harbor. The constant ocean current in combination with the reefs gives filter feeders , sea anemones and sponges an ideal habitat.
See also
literature
- Barry Clayton Waterhouse : Whangarei Harbor . In: Alexander Hare McLintock (Ed.): An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand . Wellington 1966 ( online [accessed April 15, 2017]).
Web links
- Whāngārei Harbor Water Quality Improvement Strategy - Summary . (PDF 986 kB)Northland Regional Council,accessed April 15, 2017(English).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Whāngārei Harbor Water Quality Improvement Strategy - Summary . (PDF 986 kB) Northland Regional Council , accessed April 15, 2017 (English).
- ↑ Topo250 maps - Northland West, Northland East . Land Information New Zealand , accessed April 15, 2017 .
- ^ Whangārei Harbor . Northland Regional Council , accessed April 15, 2017 .
- ^ A b Whangarei Harbor Marine Reserve . (PDF 1.3 MB) Department of Conservation , accessed on April 15, 2017 .