Uplifted storm beaches, Turakirae Head

Uplifted storm beaches, Turakirae Head

A series of storm beach ridges at Turakirae Head, near Wellington, indicate successive uplift of the southern end of the Rimutaka Range during major earthquakes. The ridge very close to the shore is the present storm beach ridge. Next inland is the ridge that was raised 6.4 metres in 1855. Further inland is a ridge dated at about 2,300 years ago, and the faint ridge near the base of the hills is dated at about 5,000 years ago.