Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua)
Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua) is part of the Tentative list of New Zealand in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List. It is a proposed extension of Te Wahipounamu WHS.
The proposed extension consists of eight marine reserves protecting the waters of the fiords and the seabed along the coast within Fiordland National Park, which were not included within the Te Wahipounamu WHS when it was inscribed in 1990. The waters and coastline are a preferred breeding habitat for fur seals and seabirds, including petrels and penguins.
Map of Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua)
Load mapThe coordinates shown for all tentative sites were produced as a community effort. They are not official and may change on inscription.
Community Reviews
GabLabCebu
Wow, for the vastness of Fjordland National Park, let alone Te Wahipounamu, it's really surprising that the waters of the fjords themselves have been left out of the inscription. They are basically the essence of the fjord, and contain a unique but still connected ecosystem with the rest of the park. Many people, including myself visit this daily through the fjord cruises in Milford Sound. One would never expect the tip of the fjord to already be the sea, as steep cliffs and mountains, littered with hundreds of little waterfalls, block the views of the curving fjord. However, on the small outcroppings above the water, masses of seals cover the surfaces. The water all around is a deep dark blue, still a pristine environment for all the creatures we see and don't see. All in all, this site should be a very obvious and significant extention to the already majestic site of Te Wahipounamu, adding important, and unique yet relevant biological and geological value.
Site Info
- Full Name
- Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua)
- Country
- New Zealand
- Added
- 2007
- Extension of
- Te Wahipounamu WHS
- Type
- Natural
- Categories
- Natural landscape - Marine and Coastal
- Link
- By ID
Site History
2007 Added to Tentative List
Site Links
Visitors
31 Community Members have visited.