Aoraki and Pukaki

Mt. Cook (Aoraki) and Lake Pukaki Summertime NZ

New Zealand’s Southern Alps are a good example of our planet’s perpetual energy at work. These 3000m plus mountains are constantly being built by the interaction of two tectonic plates.The Indo-Australian Plate in the west being uplifted by and subducting the Pacific Plate to the east. Natural forces like weather and earthquakes along this alpine fault cause erosion at approximately the same rate as the mountains are being formed.
Lake Pukaki was formed by one of the many receding glaciers from these alps. Its distinctive color is created by glacial flour (finely ground rock particles).