Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2019
  4. October 06
  5. Aerial view of Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Aerial view of Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

October 06, 2019

Aerial view of Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

© Mathias Ortmann/Getty Image

Hidden depths. Land ho in New Zealand 250 years ago

We're looking at Marlborough Sounds, a network of ancient sunken river valleys at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island. It was 250 years ago that New Zealand was spotted by British explorer Captain James Cook from the HMS Endeavour. The main purpose of Cook’s voyage to the Pacific was to sail to Tahiti and observe the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. Only after completing this task did Cook unseal the rest of his orders and learn he was to search the South Pacific for signs of a fabled great southern continent, Terra Australis Incognito.

This was a hypothetical southern landmass that European Renaissance geographers thought must exist in order to counterbalance the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Of course, Cook never found Terra Australis, but with the help of a Tahitian named Tupaia, who had extensive knowledge of Pacific geography, and armed with the previous findings of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman from 1642, Cook sailed on to New Zealand. There, he and his crew built upon Tasman’s work, becoming the first to circumnavigate and chart New Zealand's North and South Islands.

mountain grass outdoor landscape lake water nature beach rock hill sky overlooking hillside beautiful lush

Related Images

Mount Tsubakuro near Azumino, Nagano, JapanMount Tsubakuro near Azumino, Nagano, Japan
Rainforest hike near Milford Sound/Piopiotahi in New ZealandRainforest hike near Milford Sound/Piopiotahi in New Zealand
Edinburgh city skyline at nightEdinburgh city skyline at night
The Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USAThe Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
Staithes, North York Moors National Park, North YorkshireStaithes, North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire
Noctilucent clouds in LithuaniaNoctilucent clouds in Lithuania
Aerial photo of yachts racing in Cowes Week on the Solent, Isle of Wight, HampshireAerial photo of yachts racing in Cowes Week on the Solent, Isle of Wight, Hampshire
Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USALongs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Today on Bing

Dallas Divide in south-west Colorado, USA

Dallas Divide in south-west Colorado, USA

Oct 06, 2021
Montage of images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io

Montage of images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io

Oct 06, 2020
Lavender and sunflower fields under a stormy sky in Provence, France

Lavender and sunflower fields under a stormy sky in Provence, France

Oct 06, 2018
The International Space Station seen from Space Shuttle Endeavour

The International Space Station seen from Space Shuttle Endeavour

Oct 06, 2017
Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong, China

Oct 06, 2016

Related Tags

outdoor landscape sky nature cloud mountain canyon tree water snow distance painting building city sunset house clouds rock beach sunrise
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.