24 Physical Geography. 
At one time this was disconnected from the mainland, but now is united by 
a narrow spit of recent and consolidated dunes. 
Plains. An extensive plain of marine origin, the Wanganui, occupies the 
- S.W. of the island extending to Ruapehu where it is over 600 m altitude. 
The rock consists of marl enclosing beds of shells. This plain is deeply cut 
by numerous streams so that, in many places, there is a network of deep 
gorges, often extremely narrow. Viewed from the bed of one of the larger 
rivers, the nature of the surface could hardiy be guessed, steep hills rising on 
either side giving the impression of a truly mountainous land. 
River-formed gravel plains occur east and west of the main range (Man- 
awatu, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay Plains). 
The Waikato Plain occupies much of southern Auckland; it extends from. 
the Frith of Thames to the R. Waipa. Its surface, rarely more than 30 m 
above sea-level is extremely wet and swampy. Northwards from the Auck- 
land Isthmus there is much low-Iying ground. 
Rivers. The land throughout is well watered every gully containing its 
running stream. In many places the rivers have cut deeply into the surface, 
so that gorges are a familiar feature. The rivers rising in the high mountains 
are of a torrential character, but this feature is much less marked than in the 
South Island, while gently flowing streams’ are more common. Where the rivers 
have not cut deep beds the adjacent land is liable to be flooded and extensive 
swamps are so formed (Manawatu, Waikato, Thames, Northern Wairoa, Awa- 
nuil. The rivers Waikato and Wanganui are the most important in ve of 
size and drainage area. 
Lakes. The largest Ialets are on the Volcanic Plateau, the most important 
being L. Taupo. L. Waikaremoana in the East Cape Distriet is at 6oom 
above sea-level. So far as plant-life is concerned it is the natural ponds and 
 shallow lakes met with in many places that are of most importance. : 
 Sea-coast. The coast is about 3,520 km in length. The various outlying 
islands also furnish coastal conditions. A most important feature of the coast- 
line is the extensive dune-area of much of the W. coast which extends inland 
in places for 12.8 km. Also, there are considerable dunes in the far N. and 
N.E., on the coast of the A EN. and at various places between Boverty : 
Bay and C. Turnagain. 
=, 2. Ihe coat 5 rocky in many ee The s ad SE. coast-line. in its 
i  southern part consists of cliffs of slaty shale.. Further north, low. cliffs of soft 
an marl and mudstone occur. fronted. by a narrow beach with. the stony surface 
=  worn quite flat. The N.E. coast consists at first of steep slaty cliffs, but from \ 
Opotiki onwards the land as a rule is low. The shore-line of the Coromandel 
a Peninsula consists mostly of slate cliffs, but volcanie rock is no ot mo 
From Auckland to the North Cape the coast is much broken and. 
great eo a for plant-life. Low cliffs fringed bya 
