- Address: 7 Moeraki Boulders Road, Hampden 9482, New Zealand;
- Phone : +64 3-439 4827;
- Official website: www.moerakiboulders.co.nz
They say that they were brought to the coast by the gods - this is how the native population of New Zealand explains to the curious tourist, where the mysterious Moeraki boulders appeared. Indeed, no living thing could ever move them. Really they were created by mother nature?
History of occurrence
Scientists believe that these stones arose in the Cenozoic era, the Paleocene period (66-56 million years ago). Most of the boulders were formed on the seabed and in the ooze. This proves the study of the composition of the balls: it contains stable isotopes of oxygen, magnesium, iron, and carbon.
What to see in New Zealand, so it's on the boulders of Moeraki
Large, perfectly smooth boulders are located on the shore of Koehoe beach, which is located between the settlements of Hempden and Moeraki. Named these stone balls in honor of the fishing village of Moeraki.
It is interesting that on the beach you can come across a large number (about 100) of boulders. These mysterious balls are located along the coastline, a length of 350 m. Part is on the sand, a part - in the sea, from which the remains of the split boulders are seen.
The diameter of each stone differs from each other: from 0.5 m to 2.5 m. Unusually, the surface of some is perfectly smooth, while others are covered with rough patterns that look like the shell of an ancient tortoise.
Definitely, this beauty attracted and attracts so far the attention of many scientists. For example, boulders were studied with the help of electron probe microscopes, as well as X-rays. It was shown that they consist of mud and clay, connected by calcite, and also from sand. As for the degree of carburization, it may be in some weak, and in some it reaches an external mark. The surface of boulders is calcite.
And the very first scientist who was interested in this mysterious landmark of New Zealand and became Volter Mantell. Beginning in 1848, he studied them in detail, connecting to it more and more researchers, thanks to which the whole world learned about the Moikaak balls. To date, about 100 thousand tourists visit this beach every year to see mysterious stones.
How to get there?
We reach the Otago area by private transport or by bus No. 19, 21, 50 and head towards Koehohe beach.
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