Story: Active faults

The Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault forms the western edge of the Southern Alps. There have been repeated earthquake ruptures on the Alpine Fault every few hundred years. Usually producing uplifts of only a few metres at a time, the cumulative effect has been to create this mountain range over the last million years.

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GNS Science
Reference: CN06053
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Active faults - What is an active fault?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4346/the-alpine-fault (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 1 Aug 2017