This aerial view, taken with a super-wide angle lens, shows Banks Peninsula in the South Island. The snow-covered Southern Alps are in the background. Akaroa Harbour is the deep harbour at centre left. Volcanic activity between 6 and 11 million years ago led to the formation of two overlapping volcanic cones. After this activity stopped, the cones were gradually eroded to about half their original height and deep valleys have formed. The harbours at Akaroa and Lyttelton (not visible in this image) were formed about 7,000 years ago when the sea rose to its present height and flooded the valleys.