Sutherland Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sutherland Falls |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Fiordland, New Zealand, 44°48′.8028″S 167°43′48.76″E / 44.800223000°S 167.7302111°E |
| Type | Tiered |
| Total height | 581 m |
| Number of drops | 3 |
| Longest drop | 248 m |
| Average flow rate |
11 m3/s |
Sutherland Falls is a famous waterfall located near Milford Sound in New Zealand's South Island. It stands at an impressive 580 metres (1,904 feet) tall. For a long time, people thought it was the tallest waterfall in New Zealand.
However, there are other very tall waterfalls nearby. Terror Falls, for example, is 750 metres tall. Browne Falls is even taller, cascading 843 metres (2,766 feet) down a mountain in Doubtful Sound. This means Browne Falls is actually taller than Sutherland Falls.
Contents
How the Water Falls
The water for Sutherland Falls comes from a beautiful place called Lake Quill. The waterfall drops in three main sections, like giant steps:
- The top section is 229 metres tall.
- The middle section is the longest at 248 metres.
- The bottom section is 103 metres tall.
Even though the water falls 580 metres, it spreads out over a horizontal distance of 480 metres. This makes the waterfall's slope about 56 degrees, which is quite steep!
Visiting the Falls
You can get a closer look at Sutherland Falls by walking from the Quintin Public Shelter on the Milford Track. The walk to the base of the falls and back takes about 90 minutes. It's a great way to experience the power and beauty of this natural wonder.
Sutherland Falls in Movies
Sutherland Falls even made it into a famous movie! You can see the falls in the background during the eagle scene in Peter Jackson’s fantasy film, The Hobbit. It's a magical setting for a magical movie.
History of Discovery
Europeans first learned about Sutherland Falls in 1880. A Scottish settler named Sutherland was the first to see them. He initially thought the falls were over 1,000 metres tall, which would have made them the tallest in the world!
Later surveys, which are like careful measurements, showed that his first guess was too high. They confirmed the waterfall is actually 580 metres tall.
Lake Quill, the source of the falls, was named in 1890. It was named after the first European explorer who managed to climb the steep cliff to find it.
Images for kids
-
A robot illustration, often used in children's encyclopedias.
