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Kōrero: Limestone country

Punakaiki blowhole

Image
Punakaiki blowhole

Salt spray is blown through a hole in the limestone at Punakaiki on the West Coast. Sea water has eroded large caves beneath this limestone headland. Fractures in the rock connect the caves to the surface, and when waves crash into the caves, air is compressed and erupts out of the blowhole along with salt water.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10055604

by Paul Schilov

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Paul Williams, Limestone country – Dissolving rock, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12390/punakaiki-blowhole (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Paul Williams, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.