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Story: Conservation – a history

Glacial erratic

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Glacial erratic

This large boulder forms the smallest scientific reserve in the country, near Te Anau. Known as a glacial erratic, the boulder has been carried 50 kilometres from its source in the mountains by glacier ice during a past ice advance.

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Private collection

by Bruce Hayward

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, Conservation – a history – Rivers, landforms and geysers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13950/glacial-erratic (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.