Alma (mountain)

Last updated
Alma
Alma east.jpg
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation 2,510 m (8,235 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence 371 m (1,217 ft) [2]
Isolation 1.59 km (0.99 mi) [2]
Listing Highest mountains of New Zealand
Coordinates 43°33′18″S170°43′38″E / 43.55500°S 170.72722°E / -43.55500; 170.72722 [2]
Geography
New Zealand (relief map).png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Alma
Location in New Zealand
Alma (mountain)
Interactive map of Alma
Location South Island
Country New Zealand
Region Canterbury
Protected area Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park
Parent range Southern Alps
Two Thumb Range
Topo map(s) NZMS260 I36 [3]
Topo50 BX17
Climbing
First ascent 1923
Easiest route Northeast Ridge (Alma Spur) [4]

Alma is a 2,510-metre-elevation (8,235-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Contents

Description

Alma is the fourth-highest peak of the Two Thumb Range which is a subrange of the Southern Alps. It is situated 170 kilometres (106 mi) west of the city of Christchurch and is set within Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park in the Canterbury Region of South Island. Most precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east to the Rangitata River via Alma Stream, except the southwest slope which drains into Trojan Stream → North East Gorge Stream → Macaulay River → Godley River → Lake Tekapo. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 1,100 metres (3,609 feet) above Alma Stream in three kilometres. The first ascent of the summit was made in December 1923 by Harold (Ned) Porter, Hugh Chambers, and Clive Barker. [5] The nearest higher peak is Achilles Peak, 1.6 km south, and separated by Alma Col. [2] The peak, stream and col are probably named to commemorate the Alma River in Crimea where French, British, and Ottoman armies defeated the Russians on 20 September 1854 during the Battle of the Alma. [6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Alma is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone. [7] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aoraki / Mount Cook</span> Highest mountain in New Zealand

Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres. It is situated in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the South Island. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Aoraki / Mount Cook consists of three summits: from south to north, the Low Peak, the Middle Peak and the High Peak. The summits lie slightly south and east of the main divide of the Southern Alps, with the Tasman Glacier to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the southwest. Mount Cook is ranked 10th in the world by topographic isolation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury Region</span> Region of New Zealand

Canterbury is a region of New Zealand, located in the central-eastern South Island. The region covers an area of 44,503.88 square kilometres (17,183.04 sq mi), making it the largest region in the country by area. It is home to a population of 694,400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Hutt</span> Mountain and ski field in the South Island of New Zealand

Mount Hutt rises to the west of the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand, above the braided upper reaches of the Rakaia River, and 80 kilometres west of Christchurch. Its summit is 2190 metres above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur's Pass National Park</span> National park in New Zealand

Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand and covers 1,185 km2 of mostly mountainous terrain. Adjacent to it lies Craigieburn Forest Park. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Aspiring / Tititea</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Mount Aspiring / Tititea is New Zealand's 23rd-highest mountain. The peak's altitude of 3,033 metres (9,951 ft) makes it the country's highest outside the Aoraki / Mount Cook region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Adams (New Zealand)</span> Mountain in West Coast Region, New Zealand

Mount Adams is a mountain in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. The summit is roughly 19 km south of Harihari and reaches 2,208 metres (7,244 ft) in height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Dobson</span> Ski field in the South Island of New Zealand

Mount Dobson is the common name for Dobson Peak as a result of being used for the name of a ski resort near Fairlie in South Canterbury, South Island of New Zealand. There is an official Mount Dobson being 702 m (2,303 ft) high at the northern end of the South Island in Marlborough District between Blenheim and Picton, and an unofficial Mount Dobson in the Southern Alps at 2,265 m (7,431 ft) only a short distance due west. Accordingly confusion could arise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craigieburn Forest Park</span> Forest park in New Zealand

Craigieburn Forest Park is a protected area in the South Island of New Zealand, adjacent to Arthur's Pass National Park to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur's Pass</span> Settlement in Canterbury, New Zealand

Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for exploring Arthur's Pass National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manakau (mountain)</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Manakau is a mountain peak in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. At 2,608 metres (8,556 ft), it is the highest peak of the Seaward Kaikōura Range.

Mount Whitcombe is a mountain in New Zealand's Southern Alps, rising to a height of 2,650 metres (8,690 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Thumb Range</span> Mountain range in New Zealand

The Two Thumb Range is a range of mountains in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located to the east of Lake Tekapo and has several peaks which rise to around 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The southern end of the range contains one of Canterbury's main skifields, Mount Dobson.

Maniniaro / Angelus Peak is a mountain in Nelson Lakes National Park, near the northwestern extent of New Zealand's main divide. Although it is not the tallest peak in the Angelus Ridge or the wider Travers Range, Maniniaro remains a popular tramping destination and is significant to the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō iwi, who claim mana whenua within the area. According to Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō beliefs, the mountain is intrinsically linked with nearby Rotomaninitua / Lake Angelus, with the two both said to represent the footprints of the iwi's ancestors as they embarked on their journey back to Hawaiki. It is also near both major lakes of the national park, being roughly 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the southern ends of both Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Eglinton</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Mount Eglinton is an 1,854-metre-elevation (6,083-foot) mountain summit in the Fiordland Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Hill Peak</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Castle Hill Peak is a 1,998-metre-elevation (6,555-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Thumbs (New Zealand)</span> Mountain in New Zealand

The Thumbs is a 2,546-metre-elevation (8,353-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achilles Peak</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Achilles Peak is a 2,540-metre-elevation (8,333-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount D'Archiac</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Mount D'Archiac is a 2,875-metre-elevation (9,432-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloudy Peak</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Cloudy Peak is a 2,403-metre-elevation (7,884-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Alba</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Mount Alba is a 2,360-metre-elevation (7,743-foot) mountain in New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ Alma, Canterbury, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Alma, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  3. ↑ Alma, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  4. ↑ Alma, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  5. ↑ New Zealand Alpine Journal, Volume 4. New Zealand Alpine Club, 1976, p. 163.
  6. ↑ Alma, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  7. ↑ Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  8. ↑ The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 2024-12-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.