21/12/2023
1. MILFORD SOUND, NEW ZEALAND
The South Island of New Zealand boasts one of the world's most picturesque fjords. Known as Milford Sound, it is located along the Island's southwest coast, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Queenstown, which is a resort center famous for its skiing and outdoor activities.
Milford Sound is the crown jewel of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, which is the largest of the island nation's 14 national parks, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Beginning at a small village, also called Milford Sound, the fjord zigzags through a lush, green environment for nearly 10 miles (16 km) before opening into the Tasman Sea, situated between Australia and New Zealand. Buttressed by towering sheer cliffs and high mountain peaks, several of which soar to heights of 3,940 feet (1,200 meters), Milford Sound is a unique ecosystem. It is one of the wettest places on Earth, receiving an estimated average yearly rainfall of 22 feet (7 m). Mosses, lichens and ferns thrive in the wet environment and grow in abundance. Beech (Nothofagus sp.), an iconic tree of the Southern Hemisphere, is ubiquitous, but equally profuse are other trees, such as the podocarp (Podocarpus sp.), or native conifer, and the kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), or white pine, which can reach heights of 196 feet (60 m). Ferns, however, are among Milford Sound's most common plants. Several fern species live in the environment, including the silver fern (Alsophila dealbata), another one of New Zealand's most iconic plants.
As is the case with all fjords, Milford Sound was formed as the result of glacial activity occurring over several million years. As the glaciers coalesced, flowing down from the South Island's Southern Alps mountain range, they made deep cuts in the surrounding landscape. During warmer periods, the glaciers retreated, giving the fjord its unique geography and configuration.
