- Southland Plains
The Southland Plains is a general name given to several areas of low-lying land in the
South Island ofNew Zealand , separated by the rise of theHokonui Hills in the north.The plains can be divided into two broad areas. These two areas are separated by the uplands of the
Hokonui Hills , which lie to the west of Gore.The northwestern area lies to the north of the city of
Invercargill , and is formed by several large rivers, the Aparima, the Oreti, and the Makarewa. They stretch inland for over 45 kilometres from the coast of theFoveaux Strait , and cover an area of close to 1500 km².To the northeast of Invercargill, the plains of the
Mataura River and its tributary theWaimea River stretch inland as far as the town of Gore. At their southern extreme they become theAwarua Plain , a large area of marshy land which stretches from near Bluff to the foot ofthe Catlins in the far east. Between them, the lowlands around the Awarua Plain and Mataura River cover a further 2000 km².A further small area to the west, around the mouth of the Waiau River, can calso be considered part of the plains.
The Southland Plains include some of New Zealand's most fertile farmland.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.