pop (2000e) 1 065 000; area 153 978 km²/59 435 sq mi. The larger and southernmost of the two main islands of New Zealand; separated from North Island by the Cook Strait, and from Stewart I (S) by the Foveaux Strait; fertile plains on coast give way to mountains; Southern Alps run through the centre, containing Mt Cook (3764 m/12 349 ft), highest point in New Zealand; Westland to the W, a narrow forested strip; Canterbury Plain to the E, largest area of flat lowland; numerous bays and fjords to the SW; chief towns include Christchurch, Invercargill, Dunedin, Nelson; tobacco, hops, coal, cement, timber, greenstone, sheep, pottery, fruit, tourism.
The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island.
Historically as well as more recently, the South Island Independence movement has promoted financial and administrative self-government for the South Island.
Regions located in the South Island
| Canterbury Marlborough Nelson Otago | Southland Tasman West Coast |
Cities and towns in the South Island
| Alexandra Ashburton Balclutha Blenheim Christchurch Collingwood Dunedin Gore Greymouth Hokitika | Invercargill Kaikoura Methven Mosgiel Motueka Murchison Nelson Oamaru Omarama Palmerston | Picton Queenstown Rangiora Richmond Takaka Te Anau Timaru Waikouaiti Waimate Wanaka Westport |
Geographic features
| Arthur's Pass Banks Peninsula Catlins Doubtful Sound Fox Glacier Farewell Spit Franz Josef Glacier | Haast Pass Lake Manapouri Lake Wakatipu Lake Te Anau Mackenzie Basin Milford Sound |
Usage of the word the
The South Island takes the definite article when used as a noun whereas maps, headings or tables and adjectival expressions use South Island.
Examples:
My mother lives in the South Island The North Island is smaller in area than the South Island I'm visiting the South Island The major South Island peaks are all in the Southern AlpsNote also that places are said to be in the South Island rather than on the South Island.
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