Story: Geology – overview

Drowned valleys

Drowned valleys

The Marlborough Sounds, at the north-eastern end of the South Island, is a mountainous area that is now subsiding. The land is slowly sinking, and river valleys are becoming drowned by the sea. Because the land is sinking, either beaches have not formed, or they are at best very narrow.

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GNS Science
Reference: CN15225/26
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 - Holocene – the last 10,000 years', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8407/drowned-valleys (accessed 25 April 2024)

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