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Arrowsmith Range

Coordinates: 43°21′25.5″S 170°58′38″E / 43.357083°S 170.97722°E / -43.357083; 170.97722
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Arrowsmith Range
Highest point
PeakMount Arrowsmith
Elevation2,781 m (9,124 ft)
Coordinates43°21′25.5″S 170°58′38″E / 43.357083°S 170.97722°E / -43.357083; 170.97722
Dimensions
Length10 km (6.2 mi)
Geography
Map
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury region
DistrictAshburton District

The Arrowsmith Range is a mountain range in the South Island of New Zealand. The range runs from southwest to northeast, parallel to the main ranges of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. At the northeastern end, the range terminates at Jagged Peak (2,706 metres (8,878 ft)), whence a ridge connects to the Jollie Range. The lower Potts Range is a continuation at the southwestern end of the range. The highest point on the range is Mount Arrowsmith (2,781 metres (9,124 ft)).[1]

It is believed that the range was named in honour of John Arrowsmith, the 19th century British cartographer.[2]

Peaks

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Named peaks from northwest to southeast[1]

Name Elevation (m)
Prop Peak 2408
Jagged Peak 2706
Upham Peak 2705
Tower Peak 2690
The Twins 2564
Couloir Peak 2642
Mount Arrowsmith 2781
Ashburton Peak 2359
Hakatere Peak 2298
South Peak 2343

Rivers

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The northwest side of the range is drained by the Lawrence River, a tributary of the Rangitata River, and the southeast side by the Ashburton River South Branch / Hakatere and the Cameron River which flows to Lake Heron.

Glaciers

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Although the peaks do not have permanent ice or snow, there are a number of permanent snowfields and glaciers on the range:

  • Jagged Glacier
  • Douglas Glacier
  • Cameron Glacier
  • South Cameron Glacier
  • Ashburton Glacier

Climate

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Climate data for Upper Rakaia, elevation 1,752 m (5,748 ft), (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8)
11.4
(52.5)
10.0
(50.0)
7.4
(45.3)
5.1
(41.2)
3.3
(37.9)
2.2
(36.0)
2.8
(37.0)
3.8
(38.8)
5.1
(41.2)
6.6
(43.9)
9.0
(48.2)
6.5
(43.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)
7.9
(46.2)
6.5
(43.7)
4.0
(39.2)
2.0
(35.6)
−0.1
(31.8)
−1.3
(29.7)
−0.9
(30.4)
0.0
(32.0)
1.5
(34.7)
3.1
(37.6)
5.6
(42.1)
3.0
(37.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.8
(38.8)
4.4
(39.9)
3.0
(37.4)
0.5
(32.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
−3.5
(25.7)
−4.8
(23.4)
−4.6
(23.7)
−3.7
(25.3)
−2.1
(28.2)
−0.5
(31.1)
2.1
(35.8)
−0.5
(31.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 285.4
(11.24)
183.9
(7.24)
177.2
(6.98)
215.1
(8.47)
218.8
(8.61)
131.3
(5.17)
87.0
(3.43)
91.1
(3.59)
143.4
(5.65)
206.6
(8.13)
216.9
(8.54)
244.3
(9.62)
2,201
(86.67)
Source: CliFlo[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map Series sheet BX18 – Whitcombe Pass
  2. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition 1979 p 13
  3. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Upper Rakaia Ews". NIWA. Retrieved 10 May 2024.