Banks Peninsula, Volcanic peninsula in Christchurch City, New Zealand.
Banks Peninsula is a volcanic peninsula along the east coast of Christchurch, featuring two harbors, numerous bays, and rocky cliffs that rise sharply from the water. The landscape was shaped by two extinct volcanoes that form the core of this landmass.
Captain James Cook first sighted this landmass in 1770 and named it after botanist Joseph Banks, thinking it was an island before discovering it connected to the mainland. The two volcanoes that built this peninsula erupted millions of years before European arrival.
The Māori call this place Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū and maintain strong ties to ancestral sites and areas where they gather traditional foods. These locations remain important meeting points and places of cultural meaning for local communities.
Walking trails cross the peninsula and link different villages and towns throughout the region. Good footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are important when exploring the coastal cliffs and winding bays.
Two extinct shield volcanoes, Lyttelton and Akaroa, built this landmass through repeated eruptions over a very long period. Their crater landscapes are still visible today as the distinct bays that visitors see when exploring the coast.
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