Wetland
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 30 Aug 2014 22:37
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Waitangitaona Wetland
Walk
 Within the broad category of wetland
are several sub-categories with common names including swamp, bog, fen seepage
and saltmarsh. Wetlands are home to many species of plants and animals which
can’t survive in other, drier places. The Waitangitaona Wetland is a swamp which
means it is a wetland that receives a a supply of nutrients and often sediments,
via surface run-off or groundwater, from adjacent land. Most swamps occur on
valley floors, deltas and plains. Waitangitaona has formed on recent soils which
were deposited during flooding of the adjacent river.
The original name for the area is
‘Waitangitahuna’ meaning simply ‘ the beach of the Waitangi River’ having been
named for the coastline. It is commonly known as Waitangitaona, but this is a
European interpretation which has no relevant meaning in Māori.
 Off we went down what has become our
‘norm’ following the track through the
trees.
 Then, all of a sudden we are on a
beautifully finished boardwalk, out in the open,
mountain views ahead and a viewing platform complete with benches.
 Bear points to Mount Adams at 2208 metres.
 Now known as Adams
Mount xx xx
Alpine Faultline: The distant
snow-capped Southern Alps rise abruptly from the lowland floodplains. They have
been pushed up by the Alpine Fault which runs along the western base of the
mountains and extend six hundred kilometres along the West Coast. These
mountains continue to rise at an average rate of about ten millimetres per year,
one of the fastest faultline uplift rates in the world.
 From left to right Butler Range, Price Range and
Bird Hill xx xx
 Quite a
variety of things to look at.
 We walked back through the
trees.
   We admired the
various attachments on the trees.
 We crossed the road and found the river.
  The water was so clear, we watched
the greenery wafting in the fast flow.
 On a closer look, the exact stuff we used to buy for goldfish
bowls.
 This
little chap was very cross that we wanted him to move. Well what
was he doing out in the middle of the road......
 The Waitangitaona River
 The views
 ALL IN ALL A SURPRISE
FIND
WELL PRESENTED IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE |