North Auckland Peninsula, New Zealand
35.7S 173.7E
New Zealand - June 20th, 2011
The end of the long peninsula in this image is New Zealand’s Northland region, located in what is often referred to by New Zealanders as the Far North, or, because of its mild climate, The Winterless North.
It occupies the upper 80% of the 285 kilometre-long North Auckland Peninsula, the southernmost part of which is in the Auckland Region. It is bounded to the west by the Tasman Sea, and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The land is predominantly rolling hill country. The western coast of the region is dominated by several long straight beaches; the east coast is more rugged, and is dotted with bays and peninsulas.
Moving down the peninsula to the mainland of North Island, Lake Taupo can be observed as a large blue area. South of the lake is Mount Ruapehu, a volcano whose peak is snow-capped in this image.
