New Zealand
Milford Sound
Welcome to New Zealand's South Island! Milford Sound is a stunning fiord where towering cliffs and waterfalls plunge straight down into a deep, glassy sea.
Why is it famous?
Sheer cliffs rise straight up from the water on both sides, with waterfalls tumbling down after heavy rain.
It has been called one of the most beautiful places on Earth and is New Zealand's most famous natural attraction.
How was it formed?
Milford Sound is actually a fiord, not a true sound — it was carved by a huge slow-moving glacier during the last ice age.
As the glacier ground its way toward the sea, it dug out a deep U-shaped valley that later filled with ocean water.
Amazing facts
Mitre Peak, its most famous mountain, rises 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) almost straight up from the water.
Milford Sound gets an enormous amount of rain — over 260 inches a year — which feeds hundreds of temporary waterfalls.
Quick facts
- Mitre Peak, its most famous mountain, rises 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) almost straight up from the water.
- Milford Sound gets an enormous amount of rain — over 260 inches a year — which feeds hundreds of temporary waterfalls.
- It sits inside Fiordland National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site called Te Wahipounamu.
- Bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and even penguins can sometimes be spotted swimming in its waters.