Mount Cook

Mount Cook, named after Captain James Cook, is the highest mountain in New Zealand, having an elevation of 12,316 ft (3754 m). Mount Cook is a peak in the Southern Alps, a mountain range that runs the length of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Mount Cook was 20m higher until a large section of rock and ice fell off the western side of the summit in January 1992.

The first ascent was initally attributed to the Rev. W. H. Green[?] and two Swiss mountain guides on 2nd March 1882, but it was subsequently established that they were 50m short of the true summit. On December 25th 1894, Tom Fyfe[?], James (Jack) Clarke[?], and George Graham[?], all from the South Island town of Waimate[?], successfully reached the summit.

Mount Cook is also known as Aoraki, meaning "Cloud Piercer" in the Kai Tahu[?] dialect of the Maori language. (In "canonical" Maori the name would appear as Aorangi.)