Story: Coastal erosion

The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters

These rock formations are known as stacks. Many stacks were once arches that have collapsed, leaving just the upright columns. Over time these will also topple into the waves. This is already apparent in the Taranaki region’s Three Sisters, pictured here. The most seaward of the stacks is the smallest and will most likely be the first to topple, leaving cartographers with the job of renaming the remaining stacks the Two Sisters.

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GNS Science
Reference: CN35299/4
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Willem de Lange, 'Coastal erosion - Rocky coasts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6332/the-three-sisters (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Willem de Lange, published 12 Jun 2006