Falling Mountain

{{Short description|Mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Falling Mountain

| photo = Falling Mountain, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand 04.jpg

| photo_caption = West aspect

| elevation_m = 1901

| elevation_ref =[https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz32217/Falling-Mountain/Canterbury Falling Mountain, Canterbury], NZTopoMap, Retrieved 2 March 2025.{{cite peakbagger|pid=115672|name=Falling Mountain, New Zealand|access-date=2 March 2025}}

| prominence_m = 241

| prominence_ref =

| isolation_km = 2.96

| isolation_ref =

| listing =

| range = Southern Alps

| part_type = Protected area | part = Arthur's Pass National Park

| country = New Zealand

| location = South Island

| region = Canterbury / West Coast

| region_type = Region

| map = New Zealand

| map_caption = Location in New Zealand

| label_position = bottom

| coordinates = {{coord|42.89958|S|171.68733|E|type:mountain_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 8

| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Falling Mountain

| topo = Topo50 BV21
NZMS260 K33[https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/20520 Falling Mountain], New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 2 March 2025.

| geology = Rakaia Terrane[https://data.gns.cri.nz/geology/ Geological Map of New Zealand], GNS Science geological web map application, Retrieved 2 March 2025.

| age = Triassic

| easiest_route =

| first_ascent = December 1930

}}

Falling Mountain is a {{convert|1901|metre|ft|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off}} mountain in New Zealand.

Description

Falling Mountain is located {{convert|115|km|mi}} northwest of Christchurch on the boundary of Arthur's Pass National Park. It is set along the crest or Main Divide of the Southern Alps and is situated on the boundary shared by the West Coast and Canterbury Regions of the South Island. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's east slope drains into the headwaters of the East Branch Otehake River, whereas the west slope drains into the headwaters of the Edwards River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises {{convert|700.|m|ft|abbr=off}} above the East Branch Otehake in one kilometre. The nearest higher peak is Mount Oates, 3.4 kilometres to the northwest. The mountain's toponym was applied following the 1929 Arthur's Pass earthquake that caused a section of the 900-metre-high northwest side of the mountain to collapse and virtually split the mountain in two. The first ascent of the summit was made on 10 December 1930 by C.E. Fenwick, H.F. Baird, and H. McD Vincent via the South West Ridge.[https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/arthurs-pass/main-divide/falling-mountain Falling Mountain], New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 2 March 2025.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Falling Mountain is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit.[https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/new-zealand/canterbury/christchurch-4978/ Christchurch Climate (New Zealand)], climate-data.org, Retrieved 2 March 2025. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.[https://nzpocketguide.com/the-best-time-to-visit-the-south-island/ The Best Time to Visit the South Island], nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 2 March 2025.

Gallery

File:Falling Mountain, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand 05.jpg

References

External links

{{stack|{{commons category|Falling Mountain (New Zealand)}}}}

Falling Mountain: [https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/arthurs-pass/main-divide/falling-mountain New Zealand Alpine Club]
Falling Mountain: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-2191211/New%20Zealand/Canterbury/Selwyn%20District/Falling%20Mountain weather]

{{Geographic Location 2

| Center = Falling Mountain

| North = Otehake River West Branch

| Northeast = Otehake River East Branch

| East = Walker Pass

| Southeast = Hawdon River

| South = Mount Scott

| Southwest = Edwards River

| West = Mount Oates

| Northwest = Taruahuna Pass

}}

Category:Southern Alps