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Story: Active faults

The Alpine Fault

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The Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault splits the South Island in two, and forms the abrupt western edge of the Southern Alps. It passes offshore in South Westland (bottom left), and is responsible for the almost straight edge of Fiordland.

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NASA Visible Earth

Reference: MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

by Jeff Schmaltz

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Active faults – New Zealand’s longest active faults, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4366/the-alpine-fault (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009.