The Southern Alps is a mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms a natural dividing range along the entire length of the South Island. The term "Southern Alps" generally refers to the entire range, although separate names are given to many of the smaller ranges that form part of it. The most general definition of mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands. ... South Island The South Island forms one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ...

Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest point, 3754 metres (12,283 feet). There are 16 other points in the range that are over 3000 metres in height. A large proportion of the range is protected as part of various national parks, notably the Westland National Park and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Mount Cook or Mount Aoraki, named after Captain James Cook, is the highest mountain in New Zealand. ... Westland National Park is located in New Zealands South Island. ... Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is situated in the South Island of New Zealand near the town of Twizel. ...

The Southern Alps were named by Captain Cook in 1770, who described their 'prodigious height'. The had previously been noted by Abel Tasman in 1642, who described the South Island's west coast as 'a land uplifted high'. British explorer James Cook is most noted for having discovered Australia and Hawaii. ... 1770 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603 - 1659) was a Dutch seafarer and explorer, born in Lutjegast, a village in the province of Groningen, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644, in the service of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ...

Because of its orientation perpendicular to the prevailing westerly winds, the range creates excellent wave soaring conditions for glider pilots. The town of Omarama, in the lee of the mountains, has gained an international reputation for its gliding conditions. The prevailing westerlies also create a weather pattern known as the Nor'west arch, in which moist air is pushed up over the mountains, forming an arch of cloud in an otherwise blue sky. This weather pattern is frequently visible in summer across Canterbury and North Otago. The 'Nor'wester' is a foehn wind similar to the Chinook of Canada, where mountain ranges in the path of prevailing moisture laden winds force air upwards, thus cooling the air and condensing the moisture to rain, producing hot dry winds in the descending air lee of the mountains. Gliders are un-powered heavier-than-air aircraft. ... An aerial view of Omarama Omarama is a small township (population <400) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Norwest arch is a weather pattern peculiar to the east coast of New Zealands South Island. ... The New Zealand region of Canterbury mostly comprises the Canterbury Plains. ... The district of North Otago in New Zealand covers the area of Otago between Shag Point and the Waitaki River, and extends inland to the west as far as the village of Omarama (which has experienced rapid growth as a developing centre for astronomy and for gliding). ... A foehn wind occurs when a deep layer of prevailing wind is forced over a mountain range. ... Chinook has several meanings: The Chinookan nation of Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, which inhabited the lower Columbia River valley in what is now Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. ...