In this article you will find a map of New Zealand. The country is located in Oceania, southeast of Australia. The country is made up of two main islands, separated by the Cook Strait and stretching from north to south for more than 1,500 kilometers.
Article outline
Geography with the Map of New Zealand
The coasts are almost everywhere deeply indented. As can be seen on the map of New Zealand, the North Island is largely of volcanic origin and has several active volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers.
Map of New Zealand
The South Island, non-volcanic, is occupied in the west by a particularly high mountain range: the Southern Alps, which dominate to the east the narrow coastal plain of Canterbury. The range reaches 3,724 meters at Mount Cook. Glacial erosion has carved the mountains, forming deep lakes and fjords. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington (see the map of New Zealand). It is located at the southern tip of the North Island. The country’s population was estimated at 4.6 million inhabitants in 2015.
Climate in the Country
Located almost entirely in the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand enjoys a mild and humid climate. Average variations are not very marked. They range from about 15°C in the far north to 9°C in the far south. Rainfall, brought by westerly winds, is abundant in all seasons.
Average rainfall across the country is about 200 cm per year. However, relief and latitude modify this pattern, and temperatures decrease toward the south. Snow is present only in the mountains.
Flora and Fauna
At the arrival of Europeans, steppe covered part of the sheltered lowlands, and elsewhere coniferous forest dominated. Today, forests have greatly retreated in favor of grasslands. The country’s isolation has allowed the survival of small reptile species. New Zealand also remained for a very long time a paradise for birds. Finally, the country is home to many species of fish, including tropical fish.
Blank map of New Zealand
The Inhabitants
New Zealand was first inhabited by the Maori. Europeans arrived in the 1800s. White settlers brought diseases that decimated the Maori population.
Nevertheless, their number has increased sharply since the late 19th century. Mainly of British origin, they make up 74% of the population. There are also immigrants from the Polynesian islands, representing 3.5% of the population. Most inhabitants live in urban areas.
The city of Auckland, which forms a metropolitan area, is the country’s main industrial, commercial, and international center. Other important cities are Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, which can be seen on the map of New Zealand. The country nevertheless remains an agricultural nation, but livestock regions are sparsely populated.
New Zealand on a world map
You can discover all the available maps for the different countries of the world on this page.
