Mackenzie District

Mackenzie (often MacKenzie ) is situated on New Zealand's South Island district in the Canterbury region.

Geography

The Mackenzie District is located in the center of the South Island of New Zealand south-west of Christchurch. It is located in the Southern Alps. The district is the 3754 m high Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. Various glaciers influenced the landscape of the area significantly. In this way, namely the emergence of three almost parallel -lying lakes: Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and the Lake Ohau. The streams that emerge from these lakes, open mostly in the Waitaki River. In the east and north it borders on the Timaru District, on the west by the Westland District in the West Coast and south to the Waitaki District.

Due to its central location slightly east of the main mountain ridge, the climate of New Zealand is very continental. In the summer (from November to February) temperatures often reach over 30 ° C in winter (June to September), they fall mostly at night below 0 ° C.

History

In 1850 began the first European settlers to explore the region. Soon after, large parts of today's district grazing land for cattle and sheep.

Takes its name from one of the district 's most famous outlaws of New Zealand, by James Mackenzie. He was accused of stealing cattle. In 1855 he was finally captured and released after a series of outbreaks in 1856. Shortly thereafter, he appeared for always.

Economy

A very important industry is tourism. Both in summer and in winter, the area around Mount Cook, and the Mount Cook National Park.

The second most important industry is agriculture, especially livestock. Here play cattle and sheep are the most important.

In the Mackenzie district an above-average percentage of the electricity needs of New Zealand is generated. The electricity is still produced by hydropower, which can be used in many lakes and rivers.

Population

The Mackenzie District is 0.5 people per square kilometer, one of the least populated areas of the whole country. Capital is Fairlie, smaller municipalities are Mount Cook Village, Twizel and Tekapo.