Friday, April 13, 2012

Moeraki Boulders, South Island, NZ.

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The Moeraki Boulders are a group of perhaps 30 spherical boulders on Koekohe Beach on the south east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

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They originally formed in ancient sea floor sediments around 60 million years ago.

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The larger boulders are around 2 metres in diameter.

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The boulders are riddled with large cracks called “septaria” which radiate outwards from a hollow core.

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The cracks are filled with layers of brown or yellow calcite.

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This boulder is beginning to disintegrate, revealing its hollow core.

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Jan with boulder.

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Tourist planking on boulder.

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It appears that someone has fashioned this very lifelike looking cormorant on a boulder for the benefit of tourists.

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I am reminded of elephants and tortoises.

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Giant seaweed near the boulders.
Yet more boulders:
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Visited on Wednesday 11th April 2012.

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