Story: Landslides

Fiordland, 2003

Fiordland, 2003

On 22 August 2003 an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Fiordland. This caused many slips in steep terrain. They were regolith landslides, which involve only the upper soil layers and vegetation. In Fiordland forest clings to steep slopes, growing in a relatively thin layer of soil and weathered rock. When part of this slides it often takes other trees and debris, and gets bigger as it moves down.

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Photograph by Graham Hancox

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How to cite this page:

Michael J. Crozier, 'Landslides - Gravity always wins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8783/fiordland-2003 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Michael J. Crozier, published 12 Jun 2006