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Moeraki Boulders
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: John David (johnnymag)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 22 W: 0 N: 39]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (198) |
| Genre: Landscapes |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2005-06-17 |
| Categories: Seascape |
| Exposure: f/22, 1 seconds |
| Details: Tripod: Yes |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-01-02 10:40 |
| Viewed: 1831 |
| Favorites: 1 [view] |
| Points: 12 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Taken during my recent visit to New Zealand for the British Lions tour. I camped near to the beach and got up before dawn to capture the sunrise, which wasn't that impressive due to the amount of cloud. However, I hope you like my photo of these extremely fasinating boulders.
The Moeraki Boulders are huge spherical stones that are scattered over the sandy beaches, but they are not like ordinary round boulders that have been shaped by rivers and pounding seas. These boulders are classed as septarian concretions, and were formed in ancient sea floor sediments. They were created by a process similar to the formation of oyster pearls, where layers of material cover a central nucleus or core. For the oyster, this core is an irritating grain of sand. For the boulders, it was a fossil shell, bone fragment, or piece of wood. Lime minerals in the sea accumulated on the core over time, and the concretion grew into perfectly spherical shapes up to three metres in diameter.
The original mudstone seabed has since been uplifted to form coastal cliffs. Erosion of the cliffs has released the three tonne captive boulders, which now lie in a haphazard jumble across the beach. Further erosion in the atmosphere has exposed a network of veins, which gives the boulders the appearance of turtle shells. Similar boulders occur at Shag Point, and the nearby swimming beach of Katiki. In Hawke’s Bay in the North Island, scientists have found that the central core of similar boulders contained perfectly preserved skeletons of turtles, sea snails and extinct reptiles, such as plesiosaurs.
Moeraki has a long history of Maori occupation, which is represented in the town today by the Kotahitanga Maori Church and a pa site nearby. This small seaport town was the first European settlement in North Otago. Behind the town a road leads to the lighthouse where you can find a yellow-eyed penguin sanctuary and a seal colony. There are other walks of ecological interest around the coast, and through the Trotter’s Gorge native forest. South of Moeraki is the town of Palmerston, where you can follow an historical scenic route to Central Otago.
Moeraki makes a fascinating stopover point, both for the dramatic coastal scenery and the curious geological phenomenon on the beaches.
Info from http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/destinations/moeraki.html
Regards
John |
pablominto, eleana has marked this note useful
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bonjour john
j'aime beaucoup l'effet que produit la pose de 1 seconde sur l'ecume de l'eau,belle photo.
laurent
- tinman
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2663) - [2006-01-02 12:25]
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Very dreamy mood here, unusual boulders and I like your composition. TFS
Hello John...
Good composition... Good colours... All together a very strange mood obtained... Well done!
Regards,
Pablo -
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- Dando
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-n.gif)
(3084) - [2006-01-03 5:02]
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Nice photo, love the softness of the water and the overall composition and colours. TFS and Happy New Year.
Dean.
Hello,
Excellent captured moment!
Ana:)
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- eleana
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 207 W: 80 N: 75]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(2233) - [2006-01-10 17:33]
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Hello John!
Beautiful seascape!
Tender colours of the water ans the clouds.
Very well done!
Best wishes,
Elena
