Snakes are found on every continent on Earth except Antarctica, so their complete absence on the island of Ireland seems strange. What causes reptiles to ignore this region?
Firstly, Ireland is an island separated from Great Britain by a strait 80 kilometers wide. Snakes living on land cannot overcome such a distance. But why then do snakes live in Great Britain, which is also an island and separated from the mainland by a fairly wide English Channel?
The reason for such a strange distribution of snakes should be sought in the geological history of our planet. Over the course of its existence, the Earth goes through ice ages - repeated stages lasting several million years, when, due to a sharp cooling in the climate, significant growth of ice sheets occurs. Last Ice Age ( component Ice Age) began on the planet about 110,000 years ago and ended about 10,000 years ago. Much of northern Europe, bound by permafrost, was finally freed from the ice that covered the British Isles.
Primitive tribes and animals began to migrate to the islands. But not all creatures could penetrate deep into the islands, where the cold climate continued to persist. Among them were snakes, which initially settled only in the south of Great Britain. The remaining glaciers continued to melt, gradually flooding the land route between Ireland and Great Britain. This is how the Northern Strait was formed between the two islands. Great Britain remained connected to the mainland for another 2,000 years, until it found itself cut off from it by the strait we call the English Channel.
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It turns out that the snakes simply did not have enough time to populate Ireland, which at that time was still too cold for them for most reptiles. Snakes still managed to populate Great Britain, gradually moving deeper into the island along with climate warming.
For those who are not satisfied with the scientific explanation for the absence of snakes in Ireland, there is a beautiful legend. It tells that the island was saved from snakes by the Christian discoverer Saint Patrick, who gathered all the reptiles on Mount Crow and ordered them to throw themselves into the water. Only one old snake disobeyed and remained on the mountain. Then Patrick had to resort to cunning and bet with the snake that he would not be able to fit into a wooden chest standing nearby. The snake, wanting to prove Patrick wrong, climbed into the box, which the man immediately closed and threw into the sea. This is how Saint Patrick rid Ireland of snakes.
Be that as it may, the absence of snakes is typical not only for Ireland, but also for such large islands as New Zealand, Hawaii, Iceland and Greenland. But this does not always bring benefits to the territory. A snake accidentally introduced into the wild (for example, one that escaped from a zoo or pet store) can become an invasive species and cause irreparable damage to the environment by wiping out native species. This picture is observed on the island of Guam, where snakes were absent until recently. But the brown boyga, which was able to climb trees very well, was accidentally introduced into the ecosystem, multiplied and became a real disaster for local birds, almost completely exterminating the bird population.
New Zealand is considered one of the most beautiful and safest countries on Earth. There are a lot of green hills here, beautiful fields without edges, clean rivers and clear lakes, clean air, excellent ecology.
On the territory of this country, snakes are not found both in nature and in entertainment and scientific centers. In this state, such reptiles are prohibited by law. It is prohibited to keep them or breed them for any purpose. And if you find a snake somewhere and do not inform the authorities, you face a fine.
The Ministry of Industry provided the authorities with data according to which there are no snakes in the country at all. We are talking specifically about terrestrial species, while there are still marine species in the waters of this state. These reptiles do not appear on land and are extremely rare near the New Zealand coast. Their bites are poisonous, but these animals are very small in size and when bitten, their poison cannot penetrate human skin, so they are not at all dangerous to people.
Perhaps in New Zealand, snakes are banned by the authorities because they would definitely exterminate the main state symbol - a wingless bird called “kiwi”. This would ultimately lead to the complete extinction of the species, because these birds live only here and you will not find them anywhere else. By the way, the word kiwi is also used to describe the inhabitants of the country, which is not at all offensive to them.
It is precisely because there are no snakes, large predators, mosquitoes and dangerous spiders here that this state is considered the most favorable and safe for tourists.
What is the reason for the lack of snakes in New Zealand?
Previously it was assumed that these reptiles did not exist in this state at all. But in the 2000s, researchers and archaeologists discovered the remains of snakes. Thanks to this discovery, it was proven that 20-23 million years ago these reptiles still lived here, but for some reason they still became extinct.
One of the reasons for the complete extinction of snakes is considered ice age in the country. It is believed that the land snakes died out due to the extreme cold during this time and did not re-introduce themselves due to the fact that the islands are geographically isolated from each other.
However, they could well have appeared, for example, from Australia, where they are found in large numbers. But thanks to the harsh attitude of New Zealand politics towards these reptiles, they have little chance of resuming their habitat here.
New Zealand is a country with unique flora and fauna and beautifully varied landscapes, including dense subtropical forests, magnificent mountain ranges, numerous fiords, miles of wild beaches, volcanoes, geothermal valleys, geysers, internationally recognized tourist cities and much more.
Here are some short answers to simple but important questions you may have.
What clothes and other things should I take with me?
In most cases, New Zealanders dress quite simply. Evening dresses and suits with ties are acceptable in most restaurants and nightclubs, but are not required. Men generally do not wear suits, except in a few more formal restaurants in large cities.
- Jacket with hood for protection from wind and rain. It is best for the jacket to have a GORETEX membrane or similar. Umbrellas in New Zealand are not particularly helpful due to the possibility of breakage due to sudden gusts of wind. Lack of a quality jacket can ruin your vacation.
- Sports shoes or sneakers
- Warm sweater or fleece jacket
- Trousers with a protective layer against wind and rain
- Quality sunglasses
- Headgear (cap) against exposure to sunlight
- Sunscreen
Even in summer, a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage, especially if you're heading to the South Island, where there are many mountainous areas. It can often rain and wind, so the jacket should be windproof and waterproof.
Typical clothing in summer, except in some mountainous areas, may be the following set: sandals, shorts, T-shirt, a light jacket and a warm jacket for colder areas, a baseball cap and a jacket for rain and wind. Sneakers are also required for walking tours.
If you are traveling between March and October, you will need a kit warm clothes, such as a light knitted hat, gloves, warm socks, padding polyester or down jacket, thermal underwear, water and windproof jacket and trousers, sneakers.
You may not need this clothing, but with the South Antarctic winds it can get quite cold even in summer, especially on the South Island. Therefore, you need to take it with you.
Which best time to visit New Zealand?
You can visit New Zealand at any time of the year. Summer and winter temperatures differ by only about 10ºC across most of the country, making New Zealand an ideal holiday destination all year round.
New Zealand has four seasons spring (September November), summer (December February), autumn (March May) and winter (June August).
In summer, the water warms up to 25 degrees Celsius, so many aquatic species active recreation, such as snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing and others.
In winter you can find excellent skiing and snowboarding in the mountains. There are also many opportunities for free riding and heliskiing.
Away from the mountains, winter is very mild and temperatures are usually above zero everywhere.
Most excursions and active and adventure holidays operate year-round.
What is the climate in New Zealand?
The seasons are in direct opposition to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. January is the warmest month of the year: July is the coldest. Temperatures are generally higher in the north of the country, where they reach subtropical levels in summer. Winters are accompanied by heavy snowfall in the Southern Alps and the mountains in the center of the North Island. Sometimes snow falls and melts in low-lying areas of the country, mainly in the south of the South Island. In summer, all parts of the country are exposed to intense solar radiation. In this sun, fair-skinned people burn easily and should avoid direct sunlight from 11am to 4pm, from late October to early April. In general, the climate is mild maritime, subtropical in the north, temperate in the central part, alpine in the mountains of the Southern Alps and sub-arctic in the south. The average temperature in January is 20-23 °C, in July 10-12 °C. For winter period characterized by more rain and wind. Although it rains throughout the year. There is no rainy season in the country. Precipitation occurs all year round.
New Zealand has a partly subtropical and mostly maritime temperate climate. Many visitors expect a tropical, hot climate. However, temperatures are very moderate, both in summer and winter. There are generally no extremely hot or cold temperatures here.
However, thanks to the humidity and maritime climate, many Russians feel cold, especially without the necessary clothing.
There is no reason to be afraid of the New Zealand winter, because... it is usually short and usually quite soft.
One of the features of the local climate is the rapid variability of weather. The weather may change several times during the day. Therefore, you should always have a sweater and jacket on hand, even if it’s quite hot outside.
When is the best time to come?
This is one of the most important and correct questions. As practice shows, many travelers underestimate the size of the country and the number of attractions and excursions for which New Zealand is famous throughout the world. We highly recommend that you plan at least 12 days to visit both the South and North Islands. But even during such a period of time it is quite difficult to visit even the most accessible attractions. The optimal period of time for travel is from 14 to 20 days. During this time, you will quietly see the beauty of the country, take part in the most interesting and unique excursions, and be able to truly enjoy the trip.
No matter how logical it may seem, we strongly do not recommend that you combine a trip to Australia and New Zealand. These are two completely different and very beautiful countries, both worthy of independent travel without haste.
What is the best season for hiking and outdoor activities in New Zealand?
Walking trails such as Abel Tasman, Heaphy and Queen Charlotte, located on the northern part of the South Island, are accessible all year round. However, higher altitude destinations such as the world famous Milford Track, Routeburn, Kepler are closed for the winter due to snow.
Routes such as Milford and Routeburn are open between October and April and must be booked in advance due to their huge popularity around the world.
Most routes can be completed independently. However, if you prefer comfort and service, we recommend booking an organized tour with guides and a more comfortable level of accommodation.
Do I need a visa to enter New Zealand?
All visitors to New Zealand must have a passport valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the country.
For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries of the former USSR, except the Baltic republics, it is necessary to obtain a tourist visa to travel to New Zealand.
It is issued by the Moscow Embassy of New Zealand.
All necessary information about the requirements for obtaining a visa to New Zealand is on the official website of the country's Immigration Service www.immigration.govt.nz
If you wish, we can help you obtain a New Zealand visa.
Can I bring food, wood products or other items into New Zealand?
The New Zealand ecosystem has evolved independently for over 80 million years and is highly vulnerable to alien invasion. This means that when entering the country you will be forced to go through the biological security service.
We categorically recommend that you do not import any fresh products - fruits and vegetables - into the country. You can import processed and packaged food products such as chocolate, nuts, etc. However, YOU MUST CHECK THE FOOD PRODUCTS CHECK OUT AND SHOW THEM TO THE INSPECTOR.
Please read the arrival card you receive carefully. If you have other items made of wood, bee products, etc., be sure to declare them on the arrival card.
THE FINE FOR PRESENCE OF UNDECLARED ITEMS ISNZD400.
Can I drive my rental car myself in New Zealand?
Yes, you can do this. To do this, you must have a valid driver's license from your country and a translation into English language both sides, certified by an official translation agency. If you have an international driving license, no translation is required.
Can I use credit cards/ATMs in New Zealand?
All major international credit cards can be used in New Zealand in most shops, restaurants, etc. Traveler's checks are accepted in hotels, banks and some shops. If your credit card is encoded with a PIN number, you can withdraw cash from any of the ATMs located in banks and shopping centers throughout the country.
Are there any poisonous animals in New Zealand?
New Zealand has no snakes, large predators or other dangerous animals or insects, making it one of the safest countries in the world, especially for outdoor travel. The biggest nuisance is the midges on the West Coast of the South Island. However, using standard repellents easily solves this problem.
Is the water safe to drink in New Zealand?
New Zealand's cities and towns have excellent water supplies and in all cases, tap water is fresh and safe to drink. Water from rivers and lakes must be boiled or chemically treated, and filtered to drinking water level to avoid digestive disorders.
What is the power supply voltage in New Zealand? Do I need to use a converter?
Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 Hz), although most hotels and motels also provide 110 volt AC outlets (20 watt capacity) for electric shavers only.
All other equipment with different plug configurations require adapters, which are available in many stores and are also loaned to most hotels for temporary use.
What types of accommodation are available in New Zealand?
New Zealand offers a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from luxury hotels, exclusive boutique hotels and lodges, to budget motels, guest houses and farmsteads, as well as homestays, holiday parks and hostels.
The country has such international chains as: Hilton, ACCOR (Novotel, Mercure, St Moritz, Grand Mercure, Pullman, Sofitel), Millenium, Rydges, Holiday Inn, Westin and others.
You might also enjoy the freedom of traveling around New Zealand in your caravan or campervan. They sleep from two to six people and offer every comfort including shower, equipped kitchen, refrigerator and microwave.
Do I need to pre-book my stay?
It's a good idea to book your stay in advance, at least for the first few nights, especially during the most popular summer period, December to February inclusive. To obtain a visa, you must also make a reservation along the entire travel itinerary.
What is Farmstay?
Farm stays are the perfect way see real New Zealanders and experience New Zealand rural life.
Where is the capital of New Zealand?
Wellington is the political and financial center of New Zealand. The Parliament building is known as "The Beehive" and is one of the city's largest landmarks.
The National Archives, the National Library and the Old Government Building (the second largest wooden building in the world) are nearby and are open to all visitors free of charge.
What is Kiwi?
The kiwi, one of New Zealand's national emblems, is a flightless bird with long hair-like feathers and a thin beak that it uses to catch worms and insects underground. Found only in New Zealand, it is active at night in desert areas of the country. Don't forget to visit one of the many Kiwi houses where you can watch them under special 'night' lighting.
New Zealanders often refer to themselves as kiwis, and the term is also used in a short form for the famous kiwi fruit. On the stock exchange, the New Zealand dollar is also called the "kiwi".
What is nightlife like in New Zealand?
Many bars and nightclubs feature live bands, especially in larger cities, adding new dynamism to nightlife. You'll find a range of nightclubs, cabarets, bars, concerts to choose from. There are also four casinos in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
What types of recreation are available for children?
If you're planning a visit with your family, you can be sure that New Zealand has a wide range of activities for children of all ages.
There are many different parks with children's attractions, animals and birds, and playgrounds. Horse riding, skiing in winter, watching whales, penguins, dolphins, seals, zoos in most cities.
If you're visiting the larger centres, you'll find a range of themed attractions including Rainbow's End (Auckland), Planet Splash (Hastings), Sealand (Napier) and the International Antarctic Center (Chrischatch). Te Papa, the interactive National Museum, has a range of activities for the whole family, including young children.
Most family restaurants have a children's menu and high chairs. Many cafes also have high chairs, as well as baskets of toys, strollers for babies and toddlers.
Most public parks have well-equipped playgrounds for children younger age, like many holiday parks.
What are the conditions for smokers in New Zealand?
To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all public places, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, are prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please do so in designated areas or outdoors.
They are animals - no one denies this. However, in addition to searching for pictures of Grumpy Cat or adorable pugs, we use our time on the Internet to search for other animals. In this list, we will tell you which animals are the most searched on Google or the most popular in the US trend since 2014. In addition, we will tell you some interesting facts about them so that you will have something to surprise your friends. So, we present to you the twenty-five most popular animals in Google search.
25. Bison
Despite only being the 129th most searched animal in 2014, the bison made it into the top 10 trending animals last year. The American bison was driven to near extinction by hunting in the 1800s, but has since recovered largely due to the commercial raising of bison for meat.
24. Dolphin
Dolphins, being very intelligent animals, are also very social - they help sick or injured members of their pod to rise to the surface of the water for air and can even change their pod.
Although the bald eagle is best known to Americans, there are about 60 species of eagles in the world, most of which live in Eurasia and Africa - 44 species. IN North America There are only two endemic species - the bald eagle and the golden eagle.
22. Pony
A pony is a small horse, however, contrary to popular belief, it is not a foal or a young horse. Most likely, these horses developed shorter legs, thicker manes, and smaller bone structure due to living at the very edges of areas suitable for horse survival.
21. Apes
The easiest way to distinguish a great ape from an ordinary ape is simply by looking at it. back- Apes do not have a tail. Great apes of Africa on at the moment are under threat, mainly due to the spread of the Ebola virus.
20. Lobster
At the bottom of the top 20 searched animals on Google is the lobster, which can live up to 70 years. Unlike humans, lobsters do not become weaker with age; on the contrary, they become more fertile.
New Zealand is a country that will surprise every traveler picturesque natural and rare wildlife. When you get here, you literally find yourself in a fairy tale, where the landscapes amaze with their pristineness and grandeur.
New Zealand nature and animals that live in it harmoniously, are the basis of the mood of this state.
If you are wondering which animals in New Zealand are unique representatives of the local fauna, then you it will be interesting to know learn more about the flora and fauna of these islands in the Pacific Ocean.
A thousand years ago, when there were no permanent inhabitants on the islands, mammals did not live on the territory of New Zealand, except for two species of bats, as well as whales, sea lions and seals that lived in coastal waters.
As soon as Polynesians began to actively populate New Zealand lands, dogs and rats appeared on the islands, and later Europeans brought goats, cows, pigs, cats and mice to New Zealand.
Such a turn of events became a real test for the fauna of the islands. Rabbits, rats, stoats, ferrets and cats, which were brought in for hunting, reached large sizes, since they had no natural enemies.
At one time this caused great harm to agriculture, as well as to public health. Flora and fauna of New Zealand was under real threat!
Currently, New Zealand environmental authorities flora and fauna are carefully controlled New Zealand, and some areas were completely rid of animals that pose a threat to the fauna and flora.
Animals of New Zealand that can be named the most prominent representatives fauna of this country:
- kiwi bird;
- kea parrot;
- owl parrot;
- tuateria;
- European hedgehog
Interesting fact! In New Zealand, the remains of flightless giant moi birds, exterminated more than five hundred years ago, were found, the height of which was three and a half meters.
New Zealand's animals also include freshwater fish, of which there are twenty-nine species. Eight of them are now on the verge of extinction. Also in this country lives more than 40 species of ants.
Why are there no snakes in New Zealand?
For a long period of time it was believed that in New Zealand there are no snakes.
But in the 2000s a group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand discovered the remains of these reptiles.
This discovery provided evidence that approximately 15-20 million years ago There were snakes in New Zealand after all.
But for what reason these animals became extinct is not known to this day. A number of scientists suggest that this happened due to the Ice Age.
Snakes are simple couldn't stand the cold, and since New Zealand is located at a fairly distant distance from civilization, new species of reptiles could not be brought here in time.
The question arises, “Why aren’t snakes brought to New Zealand today?” Of course, if there was such a need, snakes could have been brought here, for example, from neighboring Australia, but that is not the question. The fact is that snakes in New Zealand outlawed.
Attention! Breeding or keeping this reptile at home is strictly prohibited! Also, those who accidentally saw a snake but did not report it to the relevant authorities will also face a fine.
But still, there are snakes in New Zealand, but not terrestrial ones, but sea ones - the sea krait and the yellow-bellied bonito. These reptiles were left alive only because they do not crawl onto land and are practically never found off the coast of New Zealand.
So why are the authorities doing this? reverently and categorically Do you think about snakes appearing in New Zealand? The answer is that the snakes would immediately destroy the main symbol of the country - the kiwi bird.
However, despite strict control, there is still a certain advantage in the absence of snakes in New Zealand - the country is considered one of the safest countries in the world for outdoor travel.
Flora of New Zealand
New Zealand plants are approximately two thousand different different types
, 70% of which are endemic to the islands.
As for New Zealand world famous forests, in which the most iconic films are shot, they are divided into two types - evergreen in the south and mixed subtropical in the north.
Artificial forests, that is, those planted by humans, occupy an area of about 2 million hectares. These are forests of radiata pine, which were brought to New Zealand by colonists in the 19th century. The radiata pine forest, which is located in the Kaingaroa Forest area, is the largest on the planet artificially grown planting.
In addition, on the islands of New Zealand liver moss grows, of which there are a large number here. Today, more than six hundred of its varieties are known on the territory of this state, half of which are endemic.
Also growing in New Zealand thirty types of forget-me-nots out of seventy known in the world.
The flora of New Zealand is also famous for its ferns. This marvelous, since the New Zealand climate is far from the most suitable for this plant.
Cyathea silver or silver fern - one of the national symbols New Zealand.
As for the diversity of herbs, the island of the archipelago grows 187 species of herbaceous plants, of which 157 grow in New Zealand alone.
Like this controversial and interesting flora and fauna in New Zealand. Large quantity different species of birds - from exotic small birds to huge flightless representatives of avifauna. Undoubtedly, New Zealand's flora and fauna are one of the most interesting to learn.
