This view of the northern part of the South Island, taken from a satellite, clearly shows the Alpine Fault in the centre. The eastern side has been uplifted to form the snow-covered Southern Alps. All the major rivers on the West Coast start in the mountains, and carry a huge load of sediment downstream, which is gradually extending the coastline to the west.
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Reference: International Space Station Crew Earth Observations Experiment and the Image Science & Analysis Group, ISS006-E-39488
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