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About This File
My first creation as a member of the Map Squad.
Wanganui,meaning expansive river mouth, was settled by Europeans in 1831 and wasknown as Petre until 1854. Economic growth saw the development ofstrong links with the river and major riverboat operations along theentire river.
Today,Wanganui is a delightful provincial city. The city abounds withhistoric buildings, preserved from the early days of Europeansettlement, along with beautiful parks and gardens.
The Whanganui River has physical contrasts as strong as those found anywhere in New Zealand.
Starting high up in the volcanic plateau of the central North Island atMt Tongariro, the river travels north to Taumarunui before headingsouth for 260km to Wanganui passing through the native tree and fernclad hills of the Whanganui National Park.
The upper reachesof the river, cloaked in dense rainforest, lead to the deeply incisedgorges of the middle reaches, where tree ferns and rare native plantscling to the steep riverbanks. This dramatic landscape opens out in thelower reaches of the river to follow rolling farmland and open valleysto the coastal dunes and cliffs which border the Tasman Sea to the west.
The Whanganui River is of deep spiritual, cultural and historicalsignificance to Whanganui Iwi, who are the tangata whenua (Maori peopleof this area).
(READ MORE: http://www.destinationwanganui.com/whanganui_riverintro.html)
The real thing:
http://www.michaelsack.de/images/vacation%20pics/wanganui.jpg
Larger preview:
http://simcitysphere.com/downloads/pics/wanganuiprv.jpg
