Story: Rivers

New Zealand’s water cycle

New Zealand’s water cycle

A small amount of the moisture that falls in New Zealand remains as snow and ice. Most of the water flows through rivers into lakes or the sea. Some seeps into the soil and into aquifers under the ground. Only around 30% evaporates into the atmosphere, compared with 70% in many other countries.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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Source: Ministry for the Environment The state of New Zealand’s environment 1997

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How to cite this page:

David Young, 'Rivers - How New Zealand rivers are formed', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/14667/new-zealands-water-cycle (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by David Young, published 24 Sep 2007