Astronaut Tom Jones: Our view of New Zealand's South Island on April 16, 1994 from shuttle Endeavour. The Southern Alps are the snow-capped range at left, with Mt. Cook (at 12,218') the prominent peak at middle left. North is at upper left. The three north-south lakes on the south side of Mt. Cook are (from top) Lake Takapo, Lake Pukaki, and Lake Ohau. Lake Benmore is at center bottom. The milky blue lakes, fed by glacial meltwater, are even more striking when seen on their shores. This is one place I've actually seen both from space and on the ground. From north to south, the South Island and New Zealand are well worth the trip.

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