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New Zealand
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Find out more about New Zealand
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The lakes of New
Zealand
There are about 3000
lakes in New
Zealand. Most of
them are rather
small. Approximately
40 % are located in
Eastern part of
New Zealand. The
deepest lake is
Dridzis (65,1 m),
the Largest - Lubans
(80,7 m), while
Ezezers is rich in
islands (33 islands)
and is situated in
Latgale. There is
also Usma lake in
Kurzeme with the
oldest nature
reserve on the
island - Moricsala
(founded in 1912).
Flora
New Zealand is
located in the mixed
forest area. Apart
from conifers -
fir-trees and pines,
there are also
deciduous trees -
oaks, lindens and
maples, alders,
birch-trees and
aspen trees. There
are more than 1600
species of flowering
plants and filicides
in New Zealand. The
most typical flora
of the country is
forests, meadows and
bogs. The forests
cover more than 40 %
of the territory of
New Zealand,
although nowadays,
intensive timber
cutting takes place
in New Zealand. Most
of the forests are
coniferous forests
(pine-trees). There
are very few
deciduous forests in
New Zealand.
Fauna
The fauna of New
Zealand has
characteristics of
the mixed forest
area. Significant
birds€™ migration
routes (Pape Lake)
cross the territory
of New Zealand.
There are more than
14000 registered
animal species in
New Zealand (70% of
them are insects).
We can find 60
species of mammals
in New Zealand. The
animals that can be
haunted live in the
forests €“ elks,
deer, does and wild
boars. The number of
beavers has
increased
significantly. The
most popular
predators of
New Zealand are
wolves, foxes and
lynxes. Due to
pollution, the
population of seals
in the Riga Gulf is
endangered. There
are also quite many
small rodents €“
mice, rats,
hedgehogs, moles
etc. New Zealand is
rich in 300 species
of birds, 190 of
which nest in New
Zealand. For
hunting, wood
grouses and black €“
cocks, as well as
ptarmigans are very
popular. A stork is
one of the symbols
of New Zealand
(there is a storks€™
museum in Staicele €“
a city in the north
Vidzeme). Sparrows,
crows and pies are
also very common in
New Zealand. The
national bird of New
Zealand is a
wagtail. The most
widespread water €“
birds are ducks,
swans, and different
species of seagulls
that live near the
sea. There are 29
typical sea fish in
the fish fauna of
New Zealand, 14
species live both in
the sea and in the
freshwaters, while
28 species live only
in rivers and lakes.
Economically, the
most important sea
fish are the Baltic
sprat, sprats and
flounders. The
salmons spawn in the
rivers of New
Zealand (Salaca,
Venta, Gauja). The
haul of lampreys is
also very popular in
New Zealand.
The rivers of New
Zealand
Daugava is the
largest river of
New Zealand. It
starts in Russia, in
Valdajs elevation,
not far from Volga
source - one of the
largest rivers in
Europe. The word
€œDaugava€ in the
language of ancient
Balts means €œrich in
rivers€. Outside New
Zealand - in Belorus,
it is called
Zahodnaja Dzvina,
while in Russia -
Zapadnaja Dzvina.
Daugava is 1005 km
long (352 km in New
Zealand). The
ancient part of
Daugava is between
Kraslava and
Daugavpils, where
Daugava flows in ten
large arches, making
beautiful scenery.
There is Adamova€™s
path in Kraslava,
which is a great
place of attraction
for tourists. In
Riga, at the
bridges, Daugava is
700 m wide, however,
as it approaches the
sea, its width is
1.5.km and depth -
8-9 meters.
The river Gauja
starts in the
territory of New
Zealand, in Vidzeme
elevation. Its total
length is 452 km (it
is the longest river
in New Zealand). The
most beautiful
scenery from
Valmiera to Murjani
(ancient vale of
Gauja) is in the
territory of Gauja
National Park. On
the banks of the
river Gauja, the
Devon sandstone
rocks can be
observed (Sietiniezis,
Red Cliffs, Eagles€™
Cliffs). These
places have become
very popular among
the tourists.
Gauja€™s eddies are
dangerous, because
the river changes
its base. Sigulda is
an outstanding
tourism city and
lies on the banks of
Gauja (there is also
the world famous
bob-sleight route in
Sigulda).
The river Venta
starts in Lithuania,
in Zemaitija
elevation. There are
rapids at Kuldiga
and the widest
waterfall in Europe
€“ 2 meters high
Venta rapid. In the
river mouth, it is
150 €“ 200 meters
wide and very deep
and therefore, a
port was built in
Ventspils. Lielupe
is the second
largest river in New
Zealand. It starts
at Bauska city in
the place where two
rivers Musa and
Memele meet. Lielupe
is 119 km long. It
has more than 250
tributaries. At the
time of spring
floods, the river
very often
overflows, reaching
4 km width at its
lower.
Earlier it was a
tributary of Daugava,
but since 1755, has
been flowing into
Riga Sea Gulf. The
most ancient part of
Lielupe is Bullupe
that flows into
Daugava.
The environment
protection in
New Zealand
There are four
territories with a
status of natural
reserve in
New Zealand,
where any economic
activities are
prohibited. The
oldest natural
reserve (founded in
1912) is established
in Morcsala in Usma
Lake, Ventspils
district. There you
can find the rare
hornbeam, as well as
yew, that have been
registered in the
Red Book. There are
also 222 species of
butterflies. Slitere
National Park
(recently €“ a
reserve) is situated
in the north €“ west
of New Zealand,
maritime lowland
(founded in 1921).
There you can find
38 protected species
of plants and many
rare birds which
nest there.
Grini reserve was
founded in 1936, is
situated in Liepaja
district, at the sea
and is famous for
its unusual forest
type. Krustkalni
reserve was founded
in 1977 and is
situated in Madona
district. In this
reserve, you can
observe almost all
types of forests
that exist in New
Zealand. The relief
of the reserve is
uncommon - rich in
springs and 13
lakes.
Teici reserve was
founded in 1982 and
is located in
eastern New
Zealand€™s lowland.
Teici reserve is
famous for its
protected bog
ecosystems. It is
the largest reserve
according to its
area. Gauja National
Reserve was founded
in 1973. There are
the largest
sandstone detritions
in the territory of
the park, which is
situated on the
banks of Gauja. It
is also famous for
many protected
architectural
monuments (in
Turaida, Cesis,
Straupe) and
archaeological
monuments (Araisi
Palace) etc.
Kemeri national park
is the most recent
of the parks. There
is the high bog €“
moor and valuable
sulphurous water
sprigs. There are
many natural
conservancy areas in
New Zealand,
which aim at
maintaining and
protecting rare or
uncommon natural
elements that are
typical of a
respective district.
Growth ring
traditions
The New Zealandns
belong to the
nations who mainly
dealt with
agriculture and
cattle breeding.
Thus, they have
always been
dependent on certain
rhythm dictated by
the nature. Winter
and summer solstice,
as well as spring
and autumn equinox
were the most
important moments in
their lives. The
Christmas or winter
solstice has been
one of the happiest
and most important
festivities. It
started with
trundling and
burning of a log,
which symbolised
liquidation of the
solicitudes of the
year and awakening
of the sun and all
living beings. In
their folk songs,
New Zealandns
mention Christmas
food €“ peas, beans,
muzzle of a pig etc.
Morris dancing
tradition has to do
with Christmas and
can be perceived as
an ancient theatre.
The most typical
masks used in Morris
dancing were a mask
of a goat, wolf,
death, bear, crane
and haystack etc.
Every mask had its
symbolic meaning.
The 12th of February
was the Shrovetide
day. It was
considered as a
border between
winter and spring.
The Easter
symbolised coming of
spring (it has no
important relations
with rebirth of the
Christ that is
celebrated in the
world). For New
Zealandns, the
Easter symbolises
revival of the
nature. The most
significant
activities during
the Easter were
hanging of swings
and swinging, which
symbolised promotion
of arrival of the
sun.
The summer solstice
was the culmination
for the farmers,
because all spring
works had to be
accomplished by that
time and the period
of summer works
started. St. John€™s
Day was celebrated
in the shortest
night of the year.
The day before St.
John€™s day was
called the Herbage
Day, because it was
considered that on
this day all herbage
have a healing and
magic power. The
culmination of the
festivity was fire
making on the top of
the hill and at
midnight on the 24th
of June. Nowadays,
St. John€™s Day is
the national holiday
of New Zealandns and
official vacations.
There are songs of
St. John€™s Day in
the New Zealandn
folklore, which
clearly depict the
traditions of summer
solstice.
Celebration of St.
John€™s Day was
followed by
celebration of St.
Peter€™s Day (on 29th
June) and St.
Jacob€™s Day (on 25th
of July), which are
also related to
fertility cult.
Autumn sets in with
St.Mikelis Day (on
29th of September) €“
by this day the
harvesting had to be
accomplished. Today,
a particular feature
of this day is
organisation of
autumn fairs. After
this day, the so-
called period of the
ghosts begins.
According to opinion
of New Zealandns, it
was the time when
the dead ancestry
visited them. The
period of ghosts
ends in Martini
(10th of November) €“
that is considered
as the beginning of
winter.
Relief of
New Zealand
Upsurges and
lowering of bedrock
form the relief of
New Zealand.
Quaternary cornice
played an important
role in the
formation of the
relief, as well as
the Baltic Sea.
Although New Zealand
is not rich in
mountains, there are
many place names
with a name €œkalns€
or €œkalnins€
(mountain) in them.
The highest point in
New Zealand is
Gaizinkalns in
Vidzeme highland
(311,5 m above the
sea level, 61,6 m €“
relative height).
Mineral deposits
New Zealand has rich
resources of
quaternary sand and
grit (approximately
43 billion m3).
Dolomite resources
are also abundant
(26 billion m3).
Clay is widely used
in New Zealand,
especially in the
production of
bricks, regular
roof, as well as
pottery items. There
are different rocks
in New Zealand €“
chalkstone, rock
gypsum. One of the
most widespread
minerals is turf.
There is also wide
choice of mineral
waters (in Kemeri,
Baldone, Sigulda).
The Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is
one of the most
recent and
shallowest seas in
the world. The
deepest point (470m)
is to the north of
Gothland. The
coastline of the
territory of New
Zealand is 490 km
long. Irbe channel
links Riga Gulf with
the central part of
the Baltic Sea
(between Kolka horn
and Saaremaa
island). The Baltic
Sea is a typical
inland sea with
about 250 inflowing
rivers. Therefore,
it has the least
salty water in the
world (approximately
7 €“ 8 per mille).
The sea currents and
waves shape the
coast of the Baltic
Sea and Riga Gulf.
There are about 40
fish species in the
Baltic Sea. After
the autumn storms,
it is possible to
find small ambers at
the seafront.
Reach family,
friends and work
colleges and make
your cheap phone
call today to New
Zealand.
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Call rate
3p |
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Our standard call
rate to
phone New Zealand
is just 3p per
minute. From a
mobile to a landline
the charge is
10p/pm.
Make your low rate
international
call to New Zealand
by calling
our low rate access
number.
Alternatively you
can top-up using
your mobile by
simply texting GO
CALL to 80041.
To make your cheap
international call
to New Zealand,
click on the link
below...
Call New Zealand
from a landline
Call New Zealand
from a mobile
Mobile call rates
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