Dunstan Mountains

Dunstan Mountains
The Dunstan Mountains as viewed from the Lowburn Sugarloaf
Highest point
PeakDunstan
Elevation1,667 m (5,469 ft)[1]
Coordinates44°52′S 169°35′E / 44.867°S 169.583°E / -44.867; 169.58345°02′56″S 169°22′34″E / 45.049°S 169.376°E / -45.049; 169.376
Dimensions
Length51 km (32 mi) 45°
Width19 km (12 mi) 135°
Area826 km2 (319 sq mi)
Naming
Native nameMataki-nui, Neinei-i-kura, Tiko-umu (Māori)
English translationMatakanui translates as big burn on the face
Geography
Dunstan Mountains is located in New Zealand
Dunstan Mountains
Dunstan Mountains
Otago, South Island, New Zealand
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
Range coordinates44°52′16″S 169°35′24″E / 44.871°S 169.590°E / -44.871; 169.590
Parent rangeDunstan Mountains
Topo mapNZMS260 F41 Edition 1 1991 Limited Revision 1996
Geology
OrogenyKaikoura Orogeny
Age of rock200 Ma
Mountain typeFault-block mountain
Type of rockSchist

The Dunstan Mountains are a mountain range in Central Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. The mountains lie on the eastern shore of the man-made Lake Dunstan and overlook the towns of Cromwell to the west, Clyde to the south and Omakau to the east. The highest named peak on the mountain range, a rocky knoll simply called Dunstan, is 1,667 m (5,469 feet).

Together with the Cairnmuir Mountains to the south, the Dunstan Mountains form the Cromwell Gorge which was dammed to form New Zealand's third-largest hydroelectric dam,[Note 1] the Clyde Dam.

The Dunstan Mountains should not be confused with the Dunstan Range, a small mountain range which lies approximately 20 km (12 mi) north of the Dunstan Mountains near the Lindis Pass.

  1. ^ "NZ Topo Map". Retrieved 5 August 2023.


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