Rangitata Island facts for kids
Rangitata Island is a unique piece of land in Canterbury, New Zealand. It's shaped like a long, flat lens, which is a bit like an oval that's wider in the middle and pointy at the ends. This island sits right in the middle of the Rangitata River, where the river splits into many smaller streams before reaching the sea. This type of river is called a "braided river" because it looks like braids of hair.
The island is located about halfway between the towns of Timaru and Ashburton, New Zealand. It's a large island, stretching about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) long and up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide. Because it's low-lying and flat, much of Rangitata Island is used for farming.
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What Makes Rangitata Island Special?
Rangitata Island is one of the biggest islands found within a river delta in New Zealand. A delta is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, where the river deposits its sediment as it flows into another body of water.
A Unique Crossing Point
This island is quite special because it's the only river island in New Zealand that is crossed by State Highway 1. This highway is a very important road that runs through both of New Zealand's main islands. Rangitata Island is also the only place where this major highway leaves both of the country's main islands to cross a river island.
The island is also crossed by the Main South Line railway. This railway line is used for trains traveling through the South Island. There used to be a small train station on Rangitata Island, but it closed in 1962.
Rangitata Island Aerodrome
On the eastern side of Rangitata Island, near the State Highway 1 bridges, you'll find the Rangitata Island Aerodrome. An aerodrome is a small airport or airfield. This private airfield is open for public use and has two runways. It is also the home base for the Geraldine Flying Group, a club for people who enjoy flying.
What Can You See at the Aerodrome?
Besides being a place for planes to take off and land, the Rangitata Island Aerodrome also has a collection of older microlight aircraft. Microlights are very small, lightweight airplanes. You can also find various aircraft parts, old plane bodies (called airframes), and other interesting aviation items there.
