Mount Underwood (New Zealand)

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Mount Underwood
Mount Underwood NZ.jpg
Southwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation 2,222 m (7,290 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence 257 m (843 ft) [2]
Isolation 1.63 km (1.01 mi) [2]
Coordinates 44°40′24″S168°00′14″E / 44.67333°S 168.00389°E / -44.67333; 168.00389 [2]
Naming
Etymology Thomas Underwood
Geography
New Zealand (relief map).png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Underwood
Location in New Zealand
Mount Underwood (New Zealand)
Interactive map of Mount Underwood
Location South Island
CountryNew Zealand
Region Southland
Protected area Fiordland National Park
Parent range Darran Mountains [3]
Topo map NZMS260 D40 [4]
Geology
Rock age 136 ± 1.9 Ma
Rock type(s) Gabbronorite, dioritic orthogneiss
Climbing
First ascent 1938

Mount Underwood is a 2,222-metre-elevation (7,290-foot) mountain in Fiordland, New Zealand.

Contents

Description

Mount Underwood is part of the Darran Mountains and it is situated six kilometres east of Milford Sound in the Southland Region of the South Island. It is set within Fiordland National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. [2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains south into the Donne River and west into the Tūtoko River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,120 metres (6,955 feet) above the Tūtoko Valley in two kilometres. The nearest higher neighbour is Mount Patuki, 1.63 kilometre to the north. [2] The mountain's toponym honours Thomas Underwood, captain of the ship Rotomahana, which operated cruises in Fiordland. [4]

Climbing

The first ascent of the summit was made in 1938 by David Lewis and Lindsay Stewart. [3]

Climbing routes with the first ascents: [3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Underwood is located in a marine west coast climate zone. [5] 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. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mount Underwood, Southland, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mount Underwood, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Mt Underwood, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 Mount Underwood, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Te Anau Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  6. ↑ The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 25 January 2025.
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