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Home > Diaries > 2009 > 174 |
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THE MOUNTAINS of the Arthur and Pikikiruna Ranges was once a coral reef that straddled the equator some 360 million years ago. Now exposed, these ranges contain the Southern Hemisphere's deepest and most expansive cave system. Most caves are very difficult to get to, but Ngarua Caves on the Takaka Hill between the two mountain ranges is a very accessible cave. Here the cave winds its way through a marble hill. Spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations, honeycomb formations have been created thanks to the high rainfall in the area. Sinkholes in the ground above have over the centuries trapped many animals in the ground, their skeletons remain. These include the now extinct moa, the flightless bird that dominated the forest floor. Blog from today: |
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