Humboldt Mountains (New Zealand)

{{Short description|Range of mountains in the Southern Alps of New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Humboldt Mountains

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| photo = Humboldt Mountains, South Island, New Zealand.jpg

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| photo_caption = The Humboldt Mountains, with the Routeburn River in the foreground

| map = New Zealand

| map_caption = Location in New Zealand

| label_position = bottom

| highest = Mount Bonpland

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| elevation_m = 2,348

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| coordinates = {{coord|-44.827|168.279|format=dms|type:mountain_region:NZ|display=inline}}

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| length_km = 30

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| etymology = Named by James McKerrow in honour of Alexander von Humboldt

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| location = Southwestern South Island

| country = New Zealand

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| range_coordinates = {{coord|44|48|S|168|17|E|source:dewiki_region:NZ-OTA_type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

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| orogeny = Tectonic uplift

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}}The Humboldt Mountains or Humboldt Range are one of the many ranges which make up the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana in the South Island of New Zealand. They lie to the northwest of Lake Wakatipu in the Otago Region. Parts of the range lie within Fiordland National Park, and they form the southern extremity of Mount Aspiring National Park.Reed New Zealand atlas (2004) Auckland: Reed Publishing. Map 89. {{ISBN|0 7900 0952 8}}{{cite web |last1=Swarbrick |first1=Nancy |title=National parks - Lower South Island parks |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/national-parks/page-8 |publisher=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |accessdate=11 April 2016 |date=12 August 2015}} The range was named by early explorer James McKerrow, and like many geographic features worldwide, it was named in honour of notable scientist Alexander von Humboldt.Reed, A.W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 182

The Humboldts run roughly north-south for a distance of some {{convert|30|km}}, its eastern and western edges defined by the roughly parallel glaciated valleys of the Hollyford and Dart / Te Awa Whakatipu rivers.{{cite web |authorlink=Malcolm McKinnon |last1=McKinnon |first1=Malcolm |title=Otago places - Wakatipu basin |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/otago-places/page-17 |publisher=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |accessdate=11 April 2016 |date=27 July 2015}} They are separated from the Ailsa Range to the south by the smaller valley of the Caples River. In the extreme southeast, the range drops straight to the waters of Lake Wakatipu, close to the small settlements of Kinloch and Glenorchy. Numerous small rivers have their sources within the Humboldts, notably the Routeburn River and the Olivine River. Two major tramping tracks follow valleys within the Humboldt Range, the Caples Track and the Routeburn Track.

Several peaks within the Humboldt Mountains rise to over {{convert|2000|m|ft}} above sea level, the highest peak being Mount Bonpland, at {{convert|2348|m|ft}}.