Story: Geology – overview

Rakaia River flood plain

Rakaia River flood plain

This view is of the middle reaches of the Rakaia River, looking upstream across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. Like all major New Zealand rivers, the Rakaia originates in the mountains, spreading out when it emerges as a braided river over a wide flood plain. In times of high rainfall the flood plain is covered, and the river transports huge quantities of gravel towards the sea.

Using this item

GNS Science
Reference: CN24034/27
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:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, 'Geology – overview - Quaternary coasts and rivers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8391/rakaia-river-flood-plain (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 12 Jun 2006