Milford Sound
Milford Sound | |
---|---|
Piopiotahi (Māori) | |
Location | Fiordland, New Zealand |
Coordinates | 44°38′53″S 167°54′20″E / 44.64806°S 167.90556°E |
Part of | Tasman Sea |
River sources | Cleddau River, Arthur River, Harrison River |
Max. length | 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi)[1] |
Max. width | 1.94 kilometres (1.21 mi)[1] |
Surface area | 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi)[1] |
Max. depth | 291 metres (955 ft)[1] |
Milford Sound (
Etymology
Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is one of roughly 90 places to have been given a dual name as part of a 1998 Treaty of Waitangi settlement with Ngāi Tahu, recognising the significance of the fiord to both Māori and Pākehā New Zealanders.[6] This name consists of both the Māori name and the former European name used together as a single name, instead of as interchangeable alternate names.[7]
In te reo Māori, the fiord is known as Piopiotahi after the now extinct piopio, a thrush-like bird that used to inhabit New Zealand. According to the Māori legend of Māui trying to win immortality for mankind, a single piopio flew to the fiord in mourning following Māui's death. The name Piopiotahi refers to this bird, with tahi meaning 'one' in Māori.[8] The fiord was given its European name in 1823, when the sealer
Geography
As a fiord, Milford Sound was formed by a process of
Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point (also named after a location close to Milford Haven in Wales)—the mouth of the fiord—and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft), said to resemble an elephant's head,[11] and The Lion, 1,302 metres (4,272 ft), in the shape of a crouching lion.[12]
Milford Sound sports two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls.[13] After heavy rain temporary waterfalls can be seen running down the steep sided rock faces that line the fiord. They are fed by rainwater-drenched moss and will last a few days at most once the rain stops.[citation needed]
Climate
With a mean annual rainfall of 6,412 mm (252 in) each year, a high level even for the
Accumulated rainwater can, at times, cause portions of the rain forest to lose their grip on the sheer cliff faces, resulting in tree avalanches into the fiord. The regrowth of the rainforest after these avalanches can be seen in several locations along the sound.
Climate data for Milford Sound Airport (1934–2015, Rainfall 1929–2015) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 28.3 (82.9) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
23.7 (74.7) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.7 (63.9) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.9 (66.0) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
27.7 (81.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.7 (65.7) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
12.4 (54.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
15.7 (60.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.7 (58.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.4 (47.1) |
5.8 (42.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.1 (50.2) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.5 (56.3) |
10.4 (50.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
9.2 (48.6) |
6.9 (44.4) |
4.4 (39.9) |
2.1 (35.8) |
1.5 (34.7) |
2.4 (36.3) |
4.1 (39.4) |
5.9 (42.6) |
7.5 (45.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
6.2 (43.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) |
2.8 (37.0) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−3 (27) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−1 (30) |
0.2 (32.4) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 632.8 (24.91) |
499.6 (19.67) |
601.1 (23.67) |
548.1 (21.58) |
566.4 (22.30) |
424.1 (16.70) |
393.9 (15.51) |
428.7 (16.88) |
540.1 (21.26) |
631.3 (24.85) |
566.6 (22.31) |
595.0 (23.43) |
6,412.2 (252.45) |
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15.7 | 13.1 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 15.3 | 16.5 | 18.0 | 16.2 | 16.5 | 183.9 |
Average relative humidity (%) (at 9am)
|
87.5 | 90.1 | 91.3 | 91.9 | 91.6 | 91.6 | 91.0 | 90.7 | 90.2 | 88.2 | 85.5 | 85.3 | 89.6 |
Source: CliFlo[15] |
Wildlife
Milford Sound is home to a variety of marine mammals, including seals and the southernmost wild population of bottlenose dolphins. Whales, especially the humpback and southern right whales, are increasingly observed due to the recoveries of each species.[16][17][18] Penguins are also common within the sound, which is a breeding site for the Fiordland penguin and has subsequently been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.[19]
As a result of Milford Sound's high rainfall and the density of salt water, the surface of Milford Sound is a layer of freshwater containing tannins from the surrounding rainforest.[20] This filters much of the sunlight which enters the water, allowing for a variety of Black coral to be found at depths of as shallow as 10 metres, significantly closer to the surface than usual.[21]
History
Milford Sound was initially overlooked by European explorers because its narrow entry did not appear to lead into such large interior bays. Sailing ship captains such as James Cook, who bypassed Milford Sound on his journeys for just this reason, also feared venturing too close to the steep mountainsides, afraid that wind conditions would prevent escape.
The fiord was a playground for local Māori[23] who had acquired a large amount of local marine knowledge including tidal patterns and fish feeding patterns over generations before European arrival. The fiord remained undiscovered by Europeans until Captain John Grono discovered it c.1812 and named it Milford Haven after his homeland in Wales. Captain John Lort Stokes later renamed Milford Haven as Milford Sound.[24] Following the passage of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, the name of the fiord was officially altered to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi.[25]
While Fiordland as such remained one of the least-explored areas of New Zealand up to the 20th century, Milford Sound's natural beauty soon attracted national and international renown, and led to the discovery of the McKinnon Pass in 1888, soon to become a part of the new Milford Track, an early walking tourism trail. In the same year, the low watershed saddle between the Hollyford River and the Cleddau River was discovered, where the Homer Tunnel was to be developed about sixty years later to provide road access.[26]
As of the 2006 census, just 120 people lived in Milford Sound,[27] most of them working in tourism or conservation.
Tourism
Overview
Milford Sound attracts between 550,000 and 1 million visitors per year.[27][28] This makes the sound one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist spots even with its remote location and long journey times from the nearest population centres.[4] Many tourists take one of the boat tours which usually last one to two hours. They are offered by several companies, departing from the Milford Sound Visitors' Centre.
The Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory is located in Harrisons Cove on the north side of the fiord. Situated within the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, the underwater observatory allows visitors to view the fiord's unique marine environment at a depth of 10 metres. Due to a natural phenomenon called 'deep water emergence,' deep-water animals such as black coral can be viewed in the shallow waters surrounding the observatory.[29] A dark surface layer of fresh water, stained brown by tannins from the surrounding forest, along with cold water temperatures allow the black corals to grow close to the surface throughout Milford Sound and Fiordland.[30]
Milford Sound is also a destination for
Transport
By road, Milford Sound is 291 km (181 mi) from
The long distance to the sound means that tourist operators from Queenstown all depart very early in the day, arriving back only late in the evening. This ensures that most tourists visit Milford Sound within a few hours around midday, leading to some congestion on the roads and at the tourist facilities during the main season. The peak-time demand is also the reason for a large number of tour boats active in the sound at much the same time.[28]
Over the years, various options for shortening the distance to Milford Sound from Queenstown have been mooted, including a gondola route, a new tunnel from Queenstown, or a monorail from near
There are a variety of plane charter companies that fly to Milford Sound. Most of the companies fly out of Queenstown International Airport.
Diesel spill
On 8 February 2004, a spill of 13,000 litres of diesel fuel was discovered, resulting in a 2-kilometre spill which closed the fiord for two days while intensive cleanup activities were completed. A hose was apparently used to displace the fuel from the tanks of one of the tour vessels, and various government officials claimed it appeared to be an act of
See also
- Doubtful Sound
- Dusky Sound
- Fiordland
- Milford Sound Airport
- Transport in Milford Sound
References
- ^ a b c d Dykstra, Jesse L. (2012). The Post-LGM Evolution of Milford Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand: Timing of Ice Retreat, the Role of Mass Wasting & Implications for Hazards (PhD). University of Canterbury.
- ^ Tour Guide: Milford Sound, New Zealand National Geographic Intelligent Travel Blog, 2 June 2008
- ^ TripAdvisor 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Award Downloadable PDF file (email address required)
- ^ a b "Real Journeys rapt with Kiwi Must-Do's", Scoop, 13 February 2007.
- ^ "Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand" Archived 19 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine. From the National Geographic Photo Galleries. Accessed 20 October 2007.
- ^ "Schedule 96, Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 No 97". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Find a place name". linz.govt.nz. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Milford Sound and Māori History – Cruise Milford". Cruise Milford Sound. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Milford Sound History". Milford Sound.
- ^ "Milford Sound". Te Ara. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ The Elephant Archived 16 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the mitrepeak.com cruise website)
- ^ Lion Mountain Archived 14 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the mitrepeak.com cruise website)
- ^ Milford Sound, Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 22 April 9
- ^ "New Zealand National Climate Summary–The year 2004" (PDF). National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database". NIWA. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ "A whale watcher's dream". odt.co.nz. 13 November 2015.
- ^ "The Humpback Whale Migration – Fiordland Marine Guardians". www.fmg.org.nz. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Southern right whale sightings on the rise". Stuff.
- ^ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Milford Sound. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Milford Sound Wildlife". Milford Sound.
- ^ "Milford Sound Marine Life". Milford Lodge. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ "Stirling Falls, Southland – NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ "Milford Sound History". Milford Sound. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Terry Hearn. Welsh – Milford Sound, Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Updated 4 March 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010.
- ^ "Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998". Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ Fiordland (from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Accessed 6 February 2008.)
- ^ a b Cook, Marjorie (20 February 2010). "Highway through heritage". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ IPENZ, May/June 2007
- ^ Erika Delemarre, Milford Discovery Centre nature guide, tour presentation material 2014–2015.
- ^ Paddy Ryan. "Fiords – Underwater rock walls and basins", Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 21 September 2007. Accessed 18 April 2008.
- ^ "Cruising the New Zealand Sounds on a Cruise Ship". A Happy Passport. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Driving Times". Real Journeys. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Police probe Milford diesel spill 'terrorism'", New Zealand Herald, 10 February 2004
Further reading
- Hall-Jones, John (2000). Milford Sound: An Illustrated History of the Sound, the Track and the Road (Hardback). Invercargil: Self-published. ISBN 0-908629-54-0.
External links
- Milford Sound—Destination Fiordland (regional tourism organisation)
- Map Chooser Land Information NZ Site – for downloading the Milford Sound / Piopiotahi topographic map