Mount Cook Range

The Mount Cook Range (Māori: Kirikirikatata; officially gazetted as Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range) is an offshoot range of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The range forks from the Southern Alps at the Green Saddle^[3] and descends towards Lake Pukaki, encompassing Aoraki / Mount Cook^[4] and standing adjacent to the Tasman Glacier.^[5]

Mount Cook Range
Mount Cook Range
Highest point
Peak	Aoraki / Mount Cook
Elevation	3,724 m (12,218 ft)[1]
Coordinates	43°35′42″S 170°08′31″E
Dimensions
Length	16 km (9.9 mi)
Naming
Etymology	After Kirikirikatata, Aoraki's grandfather according to legend[2]
Native name	Kirikirikatata (Māori)
Geography
Mount Cook Range Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Range coordinates	43°40′S 170°08′E
Parent range	Southern Alps

In 1889, the highest point of the range was 3763m,^[6] but this has since been reduced by avalanches and erosion.^[7]

Naming

In 2013, the range was officially renamed Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range as part of a number of name changes within the Mount Cook region, following a 2012 proposal. According to Māori creation myths, Kirikirikatata was the grandfather of Aoraki, both of whom turned into mountains; Kirikirikatata into the Mount Cook Range, and Aoraki into Mount Cook.^[8][9]

See also

• Nazomi
• Mount Rosa