Kepler Mire facts for kids
The Kepler Mire is a huge natural wetland in New Zealand. It is also sometimes called the Dismal Swamp. This amazing place is found east of Lake Manapouri. It is the biggest wetland in the entire Te Anau basin area.
The Kepler Mire covers more than 900 hectares. That's like 900 rugby fields! It sits at an altitude of about 220 to 230 metres above sea level. This special wetland is named after a famous astronomer, Johannes Kepler. A nearby mountain range also shares his name.
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What is the Kepler Mire?
A mire is a type of wetland. It is a spongy area of land that is always wet. This happens because water collects there and does not drain away easily. Over time, special plants grow and die in the water. Their remains build up to form something called peat.
How the Mire is Shaped
The Kepler Mire has a unique shape. It is like a giant, gentle dome. The middle of the mire is about three metres higher than its edges. Imagine a very flat, wide hill.
What is Peat?
Underneath the plants, the ground is made of peat. Peat is a dark, spongy material. It is made from dead plants that have not fully rotted away. This happens because there isn't much oxygen in the wet soil.
The peat in the Kepler Mire is very deep. In some places, it goes down almost 4.7 metres! That's taller than a single-story house. Scientists estimate there are about 20.5 million cubic metres of peat in this mire. That's a lot of old plants!
Why is the Kepler Mire Special?
The Kepler Mire is very important to scientists around the world. It is special because of its unique features. It has the largest system of pools in New Zealand that form a "string bog."
What is a String Bog?
A string bog is a rare type of wetland. It has long, narrow ridges of peat. These ridges look like strings. They are separated by wet, watery hollows or pools. From above, it looks like stripes or strings across the landscape. This pattern is created by the way water flows through the mire.
Visiting the Kepler Mire
If you want to see this incredible wetland, there's a great spot for public viewing. You can find it along Mount York Road. This road is about 2 kilometres from the main Highway 95 intersection. It's a fantastic place to see the unique landscape and maybe even some wildlife.
