Southland Conservancy
A Directory of Wetlands in New Zealand SOUTHLAND CONSERVANCY Te Anau Basin Wetland Complex (71) Location: 45o27'S, 167o46'E. To the east and southeast of Lake Te Anau, Southland, South Island. Area: c.2,400 ha. Altitude: 180-360 m. Overview: The Te Anau Basin Wetland Complex consists of seven distinct and isolated wetlands within the Te Anau Basin. These sites are the Dome Mire and Dismal Swamp area, Kepler Mire, Amoeboid Mire, Kakapo Swamp, Dunton Bog and two areas within the Snowdon Forest. The Dome Mire and Dismal Swamp area and Kepler Mire are described in greater detail as Sites 71a and 71b, respectively. All of the wetlands have a similar glacial origin; however, individual sites vary as a consequence of their history, drainage (water table, amounts of ponded water), fertility, topography etc. The complex of peatlands contains a rich variety of plant communities which include several significant plant distributions and provide important habitat for wildlife. Physical features: The Te Anau Basin lies on the eastern margin of Fiordland, a gneiss/schist/granite massif uplifted by the Alpine Fault on its western margin and carved by extensive glaciation through the Quaternary. On its eastern flank, down-faulting in the Te Anau Basin area has contributed to the preservation of soft Tertiary sedimentary rocks, and the deposition of glacial gravels. During the last glaciation, glaciers occupied much of the basin. Depressions and areas of limited drainage developed in the moraines, tills and outwash gravels as the glaciers retreated. Wetlands have developed on these glacial outwash deposits of last glacial to post-glacial age.
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