The Alpine Fault

The Alpine Fault trace can be seen near the Jerry and Pyke Rivers. Subtle offsets in topography show up as very linear features in areal photographs and images from space. Traces of the Alpine Fault are difficult to see on the ground, however, since the high rates of erosion and lush vegetation cover most of the features associated with fault movement. The last known movement on the fault was almost 300 years ago. (Photo: L. Homer, GNS Photo Library).