New Zealand Subantarctic Islands facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | New Zealand |
| Includes | |
| Criteria | Natural: (ix), (x) |
| Inscription | 1998 (22nd Session) |
| Area | 764.8 km2 (295.3 sq mi) |
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are a group of five island groups located far to the south of New Zealand. They are so special that UNESCO has named them a World Heritage Site. This means they are important for everyone on Earth to protect!
These islands sit on the edge of a mostly underwater continent called Zealandia. Zealandia broke away from Australia about 60 to 85 million years ago. It also separated from Antarctica even earlier, between 85 and 130 million years ago.
History of the Islands
For many years, scientists lived on Campbell Island. They worked at a weather station there until 1995.
Since then, no one has lived on these islands permanently. However, researchers and tourists visit them from time to time. In 2014, the rules to protect these islands became even stronger. This made them the largest natural protected area in New Zealand.
The Island Groups
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are made up of five main groups. Each group is unique and important for wildlife.
See also
In Spanish: Islas subantárticas de Nueva Zelanda para niños
