Sutherland Falls Explained

Sutherland Falls
Location:Fiordland, New Zealand
Coordinates:-44.8002°N 167.7302°W
Type:Tiered
Height:581 m
Height Longest:248 m
Number Drops:3
Average Flow:11 m/s

Sutherland Falls is a waterfall near Milford Sound in New Zealand's South Island. The falls are located 13.5nm South West of Chao Pass[1] .At 580 metres (1,904 feet) the falls are the tallest waterfall in New Zealand.[2] [3]

The water falls from Lake Quill in three cascades: the upper is 229 m tall, the middle is 248 m, and the lower is 103 m tall. A vertical fall of 580 m is made over 480 m of horizontal distance, thus the mean grade of falls is approximately 56 degrees.

The base of Sutherland Falls is a 90-minute (return) walk from Quintin Public Shelter on the Milford Track.[4]

Sutherland Falls are visible in the background of the eagle scene in Peter Jackson's fantasy film The Hobbit.[5]

History

Sutherland Falls was first known to Europeans when a Scottish settler, Donald Sutherland, saw them in 1880.[6] He initially claimed the falls were over tall, which would have made them the highest in the world by far. Later surveys showed that this claim was significantly inflated, and they have been confirmed to actually be tall.

Lake Quill, which forms the source of the falls, was named for the first European explorer who climbed up the cliff face to find it in 1890.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chao Pass . 2024-08-06 . NZ Topo Map . en.
  2. Book: Natural Wonders of the World. registration. Reader's Digest Association, Inc. 1980. 0-89577-087-3. Scheffel. Richard L.. United States of America. 363. Wernet. Susan J..
  3. [Jock Phillips]
  4. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/northern-fiordland/milford-track/track-description/ Milford Track – Track description
  5. Web site: Filming Locations for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, around New Zealand.. 2021-01-12. The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations.
  6. News: The Sutherland Falls.. 1907-05-15. Poverty Bay Herald. 2018-03-31. 2.