Mount Cook Range

{{Short description|Mountain range in New Zealand}}

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

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Mount Cook Range

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| photo = View of Mount Cook Range 01.jpg

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| photo_caption = Mount Cook Range

| map = New Zealand

| map_caption = Location in New Zealand

| label_position = bottom

| highest = Aoraki / Mount Cook

| elevation_m = 3,724

| elevation_ref = {{cite web|title=Aoraki / Mount Cook, Canterbury – NZ Topo Map|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz26116/Aoraki%2fMount-Cook/Canterbury|website=topomap.co.nz|publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=31 March 2024}}

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| coordinates = {{coord|-43.5951|170.1419|format=dms|type:mountain_region:NZ|display=inline}}

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| length_km = 16

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| etymology = After Kirikirikatata, Aoraki's grandfather according to legend{{cite web |title=Kirikiriatata |url=https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=Kirikirikatata |website=Kā Huru Manu |publisher=Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |access-date=1 January 2022}}

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| native_name = {{native name|mi|Kirikirikatata}}

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| country = New Zealand

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| range_coordinates = {{coord|43|40|S|170|08|E|display=inline,title|region:NZ_type:mountain_dim:20000_source:GNS-enwiki}}

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| range = Southern Alps

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The Mount Cook Range ({{Langx|mi|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{{cite web |title=The noble mountain Aoraki |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-noble-mountain-aoraki/ |website=New Zealand Geographic |access-date=21 November 2021 |language=en-NZ}} and descends towards Lake Pukaki, encompassing Aoraki / Mount Cook{{cite news |title=Mt Cook: A breath of high-country air |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/canterbury/85779803/mt-cook-a-breath-of-highcountry-air |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=Stuff |date=27 October 2016 |language=en}} and standing adjacent to the Tasman Glacier.{{cite journal |last1=Veit |first1=Heinz |last2=Fitzsimons |first2=Sean |title=Geology and Geomorphology of the European Alps and the Southern Alps of New Zealand: A Comparison |journal=Mountain Research and Development |date=Nov 2001 |volume=21 |issue=4 |page=347}}

In 1889, the highest point of the range was {{convert|3763|m|abbr=off}},{{cite journal |last1=Harper |first1=A. P. |title=Exploration and Character of the Principal New Zealand Glaciers |journal=The Geographical Journal |date=Jan 1893 |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=38}} but this has since been reduced by avalanches and erosion.{{cite news |title=Height of NZ's tallest peak Aoraki/Mt Cook slashed by 30m |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/height-of-nzs-tallest-peak-aorakimt-cook-slashed-by-30m/BF5ZWXDW2GYYZT2LCANY4ZBP2I/?c_id=1&objectid=11187423 |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}