Hamilton is a city in New Zealand located in the depths of the North Island on the banks of the largest Waikato River. A favorable mild climate with heavy rainfall, fertile soils and the industriousness of the inhabitants contribute to the development of the region. Although the processing of agricultural products is the main specialization of the townspeople, a number of large industrial enterprises, including aerospace, operate in the village.
Description
Hamilton in New Zealand is the fourth most populous city in the country. Depending on the evaluation criteria, 160-230 thousand people live in it. At the same time, it is the administrative, cultural, and economic center of the Waikato region with one and a half million inhabitants. City blocks spread over an area of 111 km 2 . Territorial agglomeration (including suburbs and satellites) occupies 877 km 2 .
If you look at the photo of the city of Hamilton in New Zealand, it immediately becomes clear that the individual low-rise buildings dominate the layout. The heart of the village is a business center located on the left bank of the river. Small islands rise more modern multi-story blocks.
Geographical Information
The landscape of Hamilton in New Zealand was formed as a result of the last eruption of the volcanic complex of Lake Taupo 1800 years ago. Waves of lava crawled north, forming a characteristic ridge landscape. With the exception of low hills located west of the city, as well as an extensive network of ravines, the terrain is relatively flat. In some areas, such as The Rapa, there are traces of the old riverbed altered by the volcano.
Due to the abundance of rain and soft volcanic soil, the area is swampy in places. In Hamilton and the surrounding area there are about 30 lakes and 7 large peat bogs. During the time of the first settlers, high humidity contributed to the tuberculosis epidemic, which restrained population growth. In order to divert excess water, the construction of 6 large drainage complexes began in the 1920s. Today the situation in the city is quite favorable.
Climate
The climate of Hamilton (New Zealand) is oceanic, with very moderate temperatures due to the Pacific Ocean surrounding the country. Despite this, due to the location of the city in the interior of the island, frosts are possible in winter up to -4 ° C. For the same reason, summer is one of the hottest in the country, when temperatures exceed +29 ° C. Hamilton has very high humidity, comparable to a tropical climate. For example, it is the same as in Singapore. This can lead to poor health among people who are weather dependent. Snow falls very rarely.
Historical reference
Previously, on the site of Hamilton in New Zealand, there were settlements of the Maori tribe. One of the villages was called Kirikiriroa. By analogy, the modern city in the language of the natives is also called Kirikiriroa. In the 1820s, local residents fought with the colonialists, but by 1830 the parties attempted reconciliation. The missionaries who built the chapel settled in the village. Trade was established: Maori bought wheat, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, supplied clothes, household items, axes, blankets. A significant event was the construction of a water mill.
In 1863, the British army captured the region. A police regiment was stationed in Hamilton. However, the settlers quickly became disillusioned with the terrain teeming with swamps. After a few years, out of 3,000 inhabitants, no more than 300 souls remained in the settlement. At the end of the 19th century, a dirt road and later a railway were brought to the town. This has contributed to the development of the region. By the beginning of the 20th century, the population exceeded 1000 people.
Reclamation work yielded results. The area, getting rid of excess moisture, has become one of the most fertile in New Zealand. Along the Vaikato River, communication was established with settlements on the seashore and then with Auckland. Hamilton's archived photos in New Zealand of the 1920s have been preserved. This is not the same village that was 20-30 years ago. The city is crossed by wide cobbled streets, and on their sides are snow-white 2-3-storey houses and shops.
Our days
Hamilton is booming today. The population is steadily increasing, infrastructure is developing. High-rises are no longer wonders, taking away more and more space from patriarchal villas and cottages. For the most part, the settlement expands northward toward the ocean. Communication with Auckland (which is 1 hour on the way) is carried out by means of railway transport and the highway.
The city has become one of the largest educational centers in Oceania. About 70,000 students study here. According to reviews, in Hamilton (New Zealand) the best schools are:
- Waikato Institute of Technology (20,000 students).
- University of Waikato (10,000).
- Higher national educational institution of the Maori people Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (35 000).
sights
Although New Zealand, due to its remoteness, cannot become a major tourist destination, travelers from Europe, Australia and the United States are more than enough. What are experienced tourists advised to do in Hamilton?
First of all, it is a local zoo. It was opened in 1969 in the northwest of the city at 183 Brymer Road, Dinsdale. Here they found a second home for more than 600 mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds. In conditions close to natural, you can see both local reptiles of tuatars and exotic Sumatran tigers, white rhinos and, of course, monkeys exotic for the area. There is also a free aviary where visitors watch the life of birds.
Noteworthy objects are:
- The Hamilton Gardens Botanical Garden and Recreation Park, which is visited annually by more than a million people.
- The second most important shopping mall in the country, The Base. Its 190 stores attract 7.5 million shoppers a year.
- Waikato Museum.
- The Lost World Cave with unique life forms.
- Hamilton Astronomical Society Observatory.
- Art Gallery Arts Post.
- The Hobbit Village, built for the filming of The Lord of the Rings.
- SkyCity Casino.
Only a 20-minute drive away are the Maori historical sites: Ngaruawahia, Turangawaewae Marae and the Maori King’s house, Tuheitia Paki. A few tens of kilometers away is the famous volcanic lake Taupo and the valley of geysers.