Mount Eglinton


Mount Eglinton is an mountain summit in Fiordland, New Zealand.

Description

Mount Eglinton is part of the Earl Mountains, and is situated in the Southland Region of South Island. It is set within Fiordland National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to Lake Te Anau and east into the Eglinton River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the Eglinton Valley in two kilometres. The mountain is composed of volcanic rock and the lower slopes are covered by a beech forest. The mountain can be seen from State Highway 94 at Mirror Lakes.

Etymology

The mountain was named in 1861 or 1862 by surveyor James McKerrow to honour Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton, a British Conservative politician and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The toponym has appeared in publications since 1864, and has been officially approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Eglinton is located in a marine west coast climate zone. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upward by the mountains, causing moisture to drop in the form of prodigious rain. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak. Climate data for Eglinton Knobs Flat which is five kilometres north-northeast of Mount Eglinton: