Mount Galloway facts for kids
Mount Galloway is the tallest mountain on Antipodes Island, which is one of New Zealand's special outlying islands. It stands at 366 meters (about 1,200 feet) high. This mountain is part of a volcano that was active a long time ago. We don't know the exact date it erupted, but it's at least as old as the Holocene era, which began about 11,700 years ago. Mount Galloway and Mount Waterhouse likely formed during this ancient volcanic activity.
Where is Mount Galloway?
Mount Galloway is located on the western side of the main Antipodes Island. It's described as a big, round-topped hill. A famous sailor named Captain Fairchild, who lived from 1834 to 1898, first described it this way. Captain Fairchild was very well-known and respected for knowing the coasts and harbors of New Zealand better than almost anyone else.
Exploring the Summit
In 1903, a person named Chapman reached the very top of Mount Galloway. He described the summit as "clear ground, matted with Pleurophyllum and low-growing Ligusticum." This means the top was open and covered with two types of plants: Pleurophyllum and Ligusticum, which grow close to the ground.
Chapman also mentioned that it was foggy, so they couldn't see a clear lake that was supposedly there. However, he noted that there was a lot of flat ground at the top, and it was "literally alive with albatross". This means many albatross birds were living and moving around on the mountain's flat areas. Later, W. Dougall did see this small lake on the top of Mount Galloway. It was about 13 acres (or 52,600 square meters) in size.
Unique Plants and Animals
Mount Galloway is home to some very special living things. One type of plant, the largest of three Coprosma species, can only be found on this mountain. This makes it a very unique place for plants.
The mountain is also an important home for two kinds of parakeets: the Antipodes parakeet and the Reischek's parakeet. These birds are native to the area and rely on places like Mount Galloway for their survival.
