New Zealand

New Zealand is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—that of the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu—and numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

Other countries and territories of the World

Geographical values

• absolute in degrees, minutes and seconds:
  41° 17′ 50″ S • of southern latitude
  174° 46′ 34″ E • of eastern longitude
• in degrees with decimal fractions:
  −41.297278°; 174.776069°

Length of New Zealand from south to north is 2,636.210 kilometers, from west ot east – from 1,229.052 km on south to 1,776.637 km on north.