Story: Limestone country

Punakaiki limestone beds (1st of 2)

Punakaiki limestone beds

Oligocene limestone beds (32–22 million years old) are visible as cliffs in a largely tree-covered hillside near Punakaiki on the West Coast. The Punakaiki blowholes are on the headland at lower right. Rivers that flow to the coast have cut deep gorges into this limestone layer. In heavy rainfall areas such as the West Coast, much of the karst landscape is hidden by the dense rainforest.

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GNS Science
Reference: CN36159
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page:

Paul Williams, 'Limestone country - Dissolving rock', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12388/punakaiki-limestone-beds (accessed 13 May 2024)

Story by Paul Williams, published 24 Sep 2007