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Accessibility: WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
The geographical centre of Christchurch
WHAT'S HERE?
The Cathedral and Chalice in 2006. K Pedley / UC
Cathedral Square was in the heart of the red zone, where the Christchurch City Centre was severely impacted by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The square is home to the 153 year old Anglican cathedral, and also housed several now damaged buildings and statues.
LEARN ABOUT IT
Cathedral Square Market 2006 from the belltower. K Pedley / UC
Christchurch's central business district, which contains Cathedral Square, sits on top of sediments deposited on low lying Holocene age coastal margins (i.e. from when sea levels had risen after the last glacial maximum). These include river sand and silt deposits (of the Yaldhurst Member of the Springston Formation) and abandoned overbank flood channels of the Waimakariri River. The deep alluvial (river) deposits, along with the existence of groundwater aquifers, influence ground shaking and affect the foundations of buildings during earthquakes. Christchurch Cathedral had been damaged by earthquakes on several occasions (in 1881, 1888, 1901, 1922) prior to the severe impacts it suffered in 2010 and 2011.
HAVE A LOOK!
Significant earthquake damage 2017. Sneha Johari / UC
Take a look at the Cathedral for damage caused by repeated earthquakes. Are there any other earthquake related features to look at around the square, or nearby buildings or streets that still show damage? Can you see newly built or earthquake strengthened buildings?
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Directions/Advisory
Easily accessed in the centre of the city. Park in the nearby streets
Google Directions
Accessibility:
WHEELCHAIR
Features
Geohazard
Geological Age
Recent
Zealandia Evolution Sequence
Pākihi Supergoup: 5 million years ago – present
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