Story: Sea floor geology

Hikurangi Channel

Hikurangi Channel

At a depth of up to 3 kilometres, the Hikurangi Channel cuts across Hikurangi Plateau and continues far out into the South Pacific Ocean. New Zealand’s tallest building, the Auckland Sky Tower (328 metres), would disappear up to its observation platform in the Hikurangi Channel. The fast-flowing flash floods that develop from avalanches at the channel’s head would easily cover the top of the tower’s aerials. Abyssal channels develop when these floods cause a build-up of the surrounding plains. The effect of the earth spinning causes more sediment to build up on one side of the channel than on the other.

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Source: NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page:

Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder and Lionel Carter, 'Sea floor geology - Abysses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/5609/hikurangi-channel (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder and Lionel Carter, published 12 Jun 2006