New Zealand is a country in Southwest Pacific, which consists of two large and many smaller islands. It is part of the Commonwealth and the home of the Maori. The head of the country is the British Queen, but her role in the Administration is minor. New Zealand is isolated from other islands and continents, which are located at large distances from it. the country is bounded by the Tasman Sea, the Pacific Ocean, with Australia and Antarctica, which is 2,500 kilometers in direction South. Once these territories were known as Terra Inkognita Australis – the unknown South land beyond the equator.
1. New Zealand was Once part of the territory of South Wales, But which today is part of the and its primordial State. When merged into the Federation at the beginning of the 20th century, the country has been suggested to be part of the new State, but she refuses.
2. New Zealand is one of the three countries all over the world, which have two equal hymn. These are the British anthem "God save the Queen" (God Save the Queen/King), which is the official national anthem of the United Kingdom and Canada, and "God defend New Zealand" (God Defend New Zealand). Other countries with two anthems are Denmark and Canada.
3. the country was the first country in the world which granted women's suffrage in 1893.
4. the first settlers of the area were Polynesians, and the first European to set foot on the Islands is the Dutchman Abel Tasman. He reaches out to New Zealand in 1642, the year away from the open just before this island but the Maori kill several people from the crew and forcing him to leave. The Europeans are returning to the Islands only in 1769 – Englishman James Cook arrived in the region and draws a card.
5. the Kiwi, widespread in the territory of the Islands, is the only genus in the family Wingless bird (Apterygidae) and the smallest in size representative of an order of Ratites. These birds are endemic to the region, and is found only in New Zealand, anywhere else in the world. The Kiwi also includes five species, all of them endangered. It is one of the most ancient in the world, evolved in an environment without mammals, the world's only bird without the tail and one of the few who can't fly. The egg of the Kiwi is greatest relative to the size of the body.
6. save the Kiwi in the area existed and other oddball – a giant MOA, one of the most massive in history, with a height of 2.2 meters and a weight of 300 pounds. My though was the Maori iztrebena at the end of the 16th century.
7. when the Europeans arrived on the Islands, they are already populated by Maori. They are descendants of polinezijci from the East, arrived in New Zealand between 800 and 1300, the legends say that today's Finnish come from a place called Hawaiki, but it is not known to this day as the location. Unlike Australia, which was inhabited by the aborigenitev for more than 100,000 years, New Zealand is the latest zaselenata land in the process of human migration. Maori have settled this area three or four centuries before Cook. Today they represent 15% of the population of the country.
8. in New Zealand found an unusually high number of papratovidni types of plants. Cyathea dealbata sixteenth fern, is a national symbol and is depicted on the coat of arms of the country.
9. in contrast with neighboring Australia, which is the oldest continent on the planet, eroded, no active volcanoes and earthquakes, the islands of New Zealand are volcanic and young. The country is being shaken by frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The Southern Alps are the youngest and fastest growing mountain chain on Earth, a volcanic plateau in the northern parts of the country passes through the Pacific ring of fire, known for his restless temper.
10. no place in New Zealand, which is more than 125 km away from the sea.
11. the country is among the countries with the highest ratio between humans and animals in the world. Only 5% of the creatures on the Islands are people. The number of sheep was 40 million, compared with ten times fewer people.
12. New Zealand has the most bookstores per head of population. Every 7 thousands of people into a bookstore, compared to, say, with the UK, where the ratio is 1: 15 000.
13. the Neighboring Australia is the sole Habitat of the marsupial of the entire planet and, in New Zealand there is no one mammal, except those brought in by people. While it is known for its vast flocks of sheep and sheep's wool production, the country is a Kingdom of birds. Although it is quite close to the Australian continent, teeming with poisonous and hazardous flora and fauna, crocodiles and sharks in New Zealand does not have any poisonous animal-nor crocodiles or snakes or sharks.
14. Agriculture and eco-tourism are the major industries of the country, which is relatively poor in natural resources. Dairy products accounted for one-fifth of the total exports of New Zealand.
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