Chatham Island (/ˈtʃætəm/CHAT-əm) (Moriori: Rēkohu, lit. 'Misty Sun'; Māori: Wharekauri) is by far the largest island of the Chatham Islands group, in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is said to be "halfway between the equator and the pole, and right on the International Date Line", though the point (180°, 45°S) in fact lies ca. 173 miles WSW of the island's westernmost point. The island is called Rekohu ("misty skies") in Moriori, and Wharekauri in Māori.[1]
The island was named after the survey shipHMS Chatham which was the first European ship to locate the island in 1791.[2] It covers an area of 920 square kilometres (355 sq mi).[3] Chatham Island lies 650 km (404 mi) south-east of Cape Turnagain, the nearest point of mainland New Zealand to the island.
The geography of the roughly T-shaped island is dominated by three features: two bays and a lagoon. More than half of the west coast of Chatham is taken up by the deep indentation of Petre Bay. The island's main settlement of Waitangi is located in a small indentation in Petre Bay's southern coast. Other significant settlements are Kaingaroa on the northeast promontory, and Owenga on the south side of Hanson Bay.
On the east coast is the even larger Hanson Bay, which stretches for the entire length of the island (35 kilometres (22 mi)).[4]
Much of the area between the bays is taken up by the large Te Whanga Lagoon, which drains to the sea to the east, into the southern half of Hanson Bay. This lagoon covers about 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi),[5] and drains several small rivers that rise in the hills at the south end of the island. The next largest lakes are Rangitahi and Huro, respectively northeast and southwest of Te Whanga.[6] The central and north part of Chatham Island are mostly flat, with altitudes ranging from a few metres on the northeast and centre to 50 m on the northwest, but with a few scattered hillocks.[6] The south part is higher, generally sloping down towards north and west; about half of it is over 150 m above sea level. The south coast of the island is mostly cliffs 100 m high or more. The highest point of the island (299 m) lies close to its southernmost point.[6]
Volcanic plugs in north Chatham from 109m Tawirikoko to 99m Puhina, 134m Hemokawa, 151m Hokopoi, 125m Motuariki Hill, 149m Rangitihi, 188m Mt Chudleigh and 178m Korako.
Chatham Island hosts the only known breeding populations of the endemic and critically endangered Magenta petrel.
In popular culture
Chatham Island (or "Isle") is featured in the first and in the final chapter of Cloud Atlas, the 2004 novel by David Mitchell. The novel was adapted for screen in 2012.[7]
^Government of New Zealand, Dept. of Conservation (1999) Chatham IslandsConservation Management Strategy 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^Steven Hooper (30 July 2006). Pacific Encounters: Art & Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860. University of Hawaii Press. p. 119. ISBN978-0-8248-3084-7. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
^"Story: Chatham Islands Page 1 – Overview". web page. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
^Ross Curtis (2011). . web page. Ross Curtis. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
^"Te Whanga Lagoon". web page. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
^ abcdefChatham Island, NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
^Walsh, David (2 November 2012). "Cloud Atlas: Six stories in search of a genuine connection". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
March 03, 2023
chatham, island, this, article, about, island, zealand, other, places, disambiguation, chat, moriori, rēkohu, misty, māori, wharekauri, largest, island, group, south, pacific, ocean, eastern, coast, zealand, south, island, said, halfway, between, equator, pole. This article is about the island in New Zealand For other places see Chatham Island disambiguation Chatham Island ˈ tʃ ae t e m CHAT em Moriori Rekohu lit Misty Sun Maori Wharekauri is by far the largest island of the Chatham Islands group in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand s South Island It is said to be halfway between the equator and the pole and right on the International Date Line though the point 180 45 S in fact lies ca 173 miles WSW of the island s westernmost point The island is called Rekohu misty skies in Moriori and Wharekauri in Maori 1 Chatham IslandRekohu Moriori Wharekauri Maori Chatham Island left from spaceMap showing location of Chatham IslandGeographyCoordinates43 54 S 176 29 W 43 900 S 176 483 W 43 900 176 483 Coordinates 43 54 S 176 29 W 43 900 S 176 483 W 43 900 176 483ArchipelagoChatham IslandsArea920 km2 360 sq mi AdministrationNew ZealandDemographicsPopulation660 2022 Ethnic groupsMorioriThe island was named after the survey ship HMS Chatham which was the first European ship to locate the island in 1791 2 It covers an area of 920 square kilometres 355 sq mi 3 Chatham Island lies 650 km 404 mi south east of Cape Turnagain the nearest point of mainland New Zealand to the island Contents 1 Geography 2 Flora and fauna 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesGeography Edit Unofficial flag of the Chatham Islands The geography of the roughly T shaped island is dominated by three features two bays and a lagoon More than half of the west coast of Chatham is taken up by the deep indentation of Petre Bay The island s main settlement of Waitangi is located in a small indentation in Petre Bay s southern coast Other significant settlements are Kaingaroa on the northeast promontory and Owenga on the south side of Hanson Bay On the east coast is the even larger Hanson Bay which stretches for the entire length of the island 35 kilometres 22 mi 4 Much of the area between the bays is taken up by the large Te Whanga Lagoon which drains to the sea to the east into the southern half of Hanson Bay This lagoon covers about 160 square kilometres 62 sq mi 5 and drains several small rivers that rise in the hills at the south end of the island The next largest lakes are Rangitahi and Huro respectively northeast and southwest of Te Whanga 6 The central and north part of Chatham Island are mostly flat with altitudes ranging from a few metres on the northeast and centre to 50 m on the northwest but with a few scattered hillocks 6 The south part is higher generally sloping down towards north and west about half of it is over 150 m above sea level The south coast of the island is mostly cliffs 100 m high or more The highest point of the island 299 m lies close to its southernmost point 6 Major lakes 6 Name Alt CoordsHuro Lake 43 56 47 S 176 30 41 W 43 9463 S 176 5115 W 43 9463 176 5115Kaimoumi Lake 43 45 19 S 176 24 04 W 43 7553 S 176 4010 W 43 7553 176 4010Kaingarahu Lake 43 49 25 S 176 22 38 W 43 8237 S 176 3773 W 43 8237 176 3773Kairae Lake 43 51 19 S 176 24 03 W 43 8554 S 176 4008 W 43 8554 176 4008Koomutu Lake 43 45 00 S 176 25 24 W 43 7501 S 176 4234 W 43 7501 176 4234Long Pond 43 52 46 S 176 24 51 W 43 8794 S 176 4141 W 43 8794 176 4141Makuku Lake 43 50 30 S 176 23 27 W 43 8418 S 176 3908 W 43 8418 176 3908Marakapia Lake 43 50 34 S 176 33 14 W 43 8427 S 176 5539 W 43 8427 176 5539Matangirau Lake 256 44 04 44 S 176 34 42 W 44 0790 S 176 5783 W 44 0790 176 5783Omutu Lake 43 44 35 S 176 14 52 W 43 7430 S 176 2479 W 43 7430 176 2479Pakauwera Pond 43 44 50 S 176 29 18 W 43 7471 S 176 4883 W 43 7471 176 4883Pateriki Lake 43 45 12 S 176 18 33 W 43 7532 S 176 3091 W 43 7532 176 3091Pukawa Lake 44 04 04 S 176 33 41 W 44 0679 S 176 5613 W 44 0679 176 5613Rakeinui Lake 244 44 05 28 S 176 35 02 W 44 0912 S 176 5839 W 44 0912 176 5839Rangitahi Lake 43 45 52 S 176 20 46 W 43 7644 S 176 3460 W 43 7644 176 3460Rotoeka Lake 43 46 34 S 176 35 40 W 43 7760 S 176 5945 W 43 7760 176 5945Rotokawau Lake 43 44 57 S 176 35 16 W 43 7492 S 176 5878 W 43 7492 176 5878Rotopararoa Lake 43 48 50 S 176 35 29 W 43 8139 S 176 5915 W 43 8139 176 5915Rotorua Lake 43 45 37 S 176 17 30 W 43 7602 S 176 2918 W 43 7602 176 2918Taia Lake 43 52 06 S 176 24 19 W 43 8682 S 176 4053 W 43 8682 176 4053Te Rangatapu 263 44 06 30 S 176 35 18 W 44 1082 S 176 5884 W 44 1082 176 5884Te Roto 43 49 13 S 176 35 02 W 43 8204 S 176 5838 W 43 8204 176 5838Te Wapu 43 44 32 S 176 15 42 W 43 7421 S 176 2618 W 43 7421 176 2618Tennants Lake 43 49 36 S 176 34 18 W 43 8266 S 176 5717 W 43 8266 176 5717Tuku a taupo Lake 44 04 01 S 176 31 32 W 44 0669 S 176 5256 W 44 0669 176 5256Waikauia Lake 43 43 04 S 176 37 24 W 43 7179 S 176 6233 W 43 7179 176 6233Wharemanu Lake 43 45 12 S 176 24 56 W 43 7533 S 176 4155 W 43 7533 176 4155Wharo Lake 43 44 34 S 176 30 16 W 43 7429 S 176 5045 W 43 7429 176 5045unnamed lake 1 43 47 31 S 176 20 54 W 43 7919 S 176 3483 W 43 7919 176 3483unnamed lake 2 43 45 24 S 176 14 51 W 43 7567 S 176 2475 W 43 7567 176 2475unnamed lake 3 43 43 35 S 176 31 09 W 43 7263 S 176 5191 W 43 7263 176 5191unnamed lake 4 43 48 23 S 176 43 21 W 43 8063 S 176 7226 W 43 8063 176 7226unnamed lake 5 43 48 23 S 176 50 51 W 43 8063 S 176 8474 W 43 8063 176 8474 Some north and central peaks 6 Name Alt CoordsChudleigh Mount 188 43 43 26 S 176 34 12 W 43 7239 S 176 5699 W 43 7239 176 5699Diffenbach Mount 134 43 46 40 S 176 42 12 W 43 7777 S 176 7033 W 43 7777 176 7033Hokopoi 151 43 46 38 S 176 39 33 W 43 7772 S 176 6591 W 43 7772 176 6591Korako 178 43 46 19 S 176 34 50 W 43 7720 S 176 5806 W 43 7720 176 5806Matakitaki 155 43 48 37 S 176 50 00 W 43 8104 S 176 8334 W 43 8104 176 8334Maunganui 178 43 46 01 S 176 46 26 W 43 7669 S 176 7740 W 43 7669 176 7740Motoroporo 112 43 46 18 S 176 37 58 W 43 7716 S 176 6329 W 43 7716 176 6329Motuariki 125 43 44 21 S 176 37 12 W 43 7393 S 176 6199 W 43 7393 176 6199Puhina 99 43 41 50 S 176 37 40 W 43 6971 S 176 6278 W 43 6971 176 6278Rangitihi 149 43 43 16 S 176 34 46 W 43 7211 S 176 5794 W 43 7211 176 5794Tawirikoko 109 43 47 56 S 176 43 42 W 43 7988 S 176 7282 W 43 7988 176 7282 Volcanic plugs in north Chatham from 109m Tawirikoko to 99m Puhina 134m Hemokawa 151m Hokopoi 125m Motuariki Hill 149m Rangitihi 188m Mt Chudleigh and 178m Korako Some south peaks 6 Name Alt CoordsKarore 282 44 06 47 S 176 33 08 W 44 1130 S 176 5523 W 44 1130 176 5523Maungatere Hill 294 44 03 09 S 176 32 47 W 44 0525 S 176 5465 W 44 0525 176 5465Oehau 205 44 02 01 S 176 38 07 W 44 0336 S 176 6353 W 44 0336 176 6353Oropuke 287 44 04 46 S 176 30 36 W 44 0794 S 176 5099 W 44 0794 176 5099Rangaika 264 44 03 45 S 176 27 23 W 44 0624 S 176 4563 W 44 0624 176 4563Rangitane 225 44 02 36 S 176 27 21 W 44 0434 S 176 4559 W 44 0434 176 4559Whakamarino 237 44 01 24 S 176 36 54 W 44 0232 S 176 6150 W 44 0232 176 6150unnamed hill 299 44 07 12 S 176 34 38 W 44 1201 S 176 5773 W 44 1201 176 5773Flora and fauna EditChatham Island hosts the only known breeding populations of the endemic and critically endangered Magenta petrel In popular culture EditChatham Island or Isle is featured in the first and in the final chapter of Cloud Atlas the 2004 novel by David Mitchell The novel was adapted for screen in 2012 7 See also EditChatham Standard Time Zone List of islands of New ZealandReferences Edit Government of New Zealand Dept of Conservation 1999 Chatham IslandsConservation Management Strategy Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 July 2012 Steven Hooper 30 July 2006 Pacific Encounters Art amp Divinity in Polynesia 1760 1860 University of Hawaii Press p 119 ISBN 978 0 8248 3084 7 Retrieved 17 July 2012 Story Chatham Islands Page 1 Overview web page The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 7 September 2012 Retrieved 15 December 2012 Ross Curtis 2011 Chatham Island Wildlife amp Landscapes web page Ross Curtis Archived from the original on 18 October 2019 Retrieved 14 December 2012 Te Whanga Lagoon web page The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 7 September 2012 Retrieved 15 December 2012 a b c d e f Chatham Island NZ Topo Map Retrieved 14 July 2012 Walsh David 2 November 2012 Cloud Atlas Six stories in search of a genuine connection Retrieved 19 November 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chatham Island amp oldid 1121131449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
