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joseantonio | all galleries >> Galleries >> NEW ZEALAND 2010 > Tokangawha / Split Apple Rock
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11-Mar-2010

Tokangawha / Split Apple Rock

What looks like a giant stone apple cleaved neatly in half by some otherworldly knife sits within the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Tasman Bay. This strange boulder makes for an unusual beach attraction.Known as Split Apple Rock, the naturally occurring rock formation is located just off the coast between Kaiteriteri and Marahau in Abel Tasman National Park. It’s made of granite and estimated to be around 120 million years old.According to Maori legend, the boulder was split by two feuding gods who were fighting to possess it. To resolve the issue, they used their huge godlike strength to break it in half. As such, the Maori name for the rock is Tokangawha, which means “burst open rock.” A more scientific theory is that water seeped into a crevice in the rock and then froze during an ice age, expanding and thus splitting the stone.

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barbarajoy17-May-2021 07:47
Fascinating feature and a bird on each. The sky is beautiful! V
Eli Finkelstein11-Apr-2021 13:56
A very interesting formation, well captured. V
George McCarten10-Apr-2021 22:30
Aptly named!
Bert Ooms07-Apr-2021 17:18
Ah, so many good memories! We went canoeing there and visited the split apple as well.
What a great country!
V best,
Bert
Zoltán Balogh07-Apr-2021 13:51
How nice this photo is! V
kinta03-Apr-2021 19:11
What a fantastic splitted rocks! Japanese might image "Peach" instead of "Apple" since these rocks seems to be out of a fairy tale of "MOMOTARO", V!
Doug Cruden03-Apr-2021 10:59
What a great shot of this fascinating rock...nicely done! I like the birds too :o)
globalgadabout31-Mar-2021 17:19
a remarkable formation, and the image does it justice...excellent shot Jose..V
Julie Oldfield31-Mar-2021 01:26
Awesome! I love the birds. V
Don Mottershead29-Mar-2021 22:58
Fascinating!
Fabienne29-Mar-2021 20:15
C’est une magnifique et originale photo.
Walter Otto Koenig29-Mar-2021 17:55
What a great shot. Really like the mood and the two birds on the split rock. "V"
Flora29-Mar-2021 17:24
Fabulous capture and very interesting information. ~V~
Apostolos Tikopoulos29-Mar-2021 17:17
Excellent work, Jose. A really winner. V.
Julie Queybronac (Bryline)29-Mar-2021 16:27
Strange rocks... ! V
David Buzzeo29-Mar-2021 15:49
Cool shot. V
Hennie & Lies Lammers29-Mar-2021 15:47
Fascinating rock and interesting info
Roland Le Gall29-Mar-2021 15:33
Awesome...!
Tom Munson29-Mar-2021 15:24
Cool shot, Jose.
francoisconstantin29-Mar-2021 15:23
Spectacular!!! Very nice composition of this beautiful place.
Jeff Real29-Mar-2021 15:20
What absolutely breathtaking beauty and mystery!
V
Cathy Adams29-Mar-2021 14:46
WOW! What a great catch with the two birds and the Kayakers! LOVE that rock formation!!!V
Carl Carbone29-Mar-2021 14:14
What a neat feature. Nice capture.
Marcia Rules29-Mar-2021 13:30
An awesome shot! Bravo! BV
Viviane29-Mar-2021 13:13
Good job the gulls weren't split.
Philip P29-Mar-2021 13:06
Great capture, my bet is on the freezing water theory.
Neil Marcus29-Mar-2021 12:52
One of your best. The tones, split rock and a bird on each. "VVV"
Patricia Kay29-Mar-2021 11:35
Great composition Jose...beautiful... BV
LynnH29-Mar-2021 11:28
Good PoV to show us the clean cut on this 'apple' Amazing work of Mother Nature. V
janescottcumming29-Mar-2021 11:28
Amazing how all societies have basically the same stories. Love this one and how they explained what happened. Beautiful photo too! V
Fong Lam29-Mar-2021 09:59
Great timing with the birds resting on the tips of the rocks....love the light as well...V
danad29-Mar-2021 09:35
Looks like the architecture of Sydney opera ! V.
John Hamers29-Mar-2021 08:58
Fascinating rock and interesting info. Love how the rock stand out against that beautiful sky.!V
KAI-WING LEUNG29-Mar-2021 08:47
Very nice image! V
John Reynolds LRPS29-Mar-2021 05:31
An amazing sight. V.
Carter Creek29-Mar-2021 05:04
Well done. I like the birds on the rock. V
Raymond Ma29-Mar-2021 04:42
How fascinating...great shot of it in this light and with the 2birds perched on each one. V
Helen Betts29-Mar-2021 04:00
Beautiful capture of this unusual looking rock. Good to have gotten the birds and paddlers in view as well. V.
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