Crooked Arm

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SAILING through Doubtful Sound in Fiordland, one of the most remote parts of New Zealand, the boat turned into Crooked Arm Sound.

This was one of many valleys carved out by glaciers during the ice ages. The solid granite had been carved down to over four hundred metres below sea level in places. The ice has gone to be replaced by moss covered cloud forest which clings to the near vertical sides of the mountains where waterfalls plunge up to eight hundred metres.

Unseen amongst the jagged peaks are small lakes and meadows of tussock too high for the forest to grow. These tops are covered in snow by winter.

The crystal clear water is black with its depth. They say the top fifty metres of water is fresh due to the high rainfall and small tides. Rare dolphins swim elusively along these channels and deep sea coral uniquely grows near the surface.

Doubtful Sound is truly a magical wilderness.

Blogs from today:
Doubtful Sound
Manapouri Power Scheme

Superblog from today:
Fiordland