THE 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked New Zealand earlier last month has had a lasting effect in the shape of a 15-foot-high (4.6-meter-high) wall.

    It was created by the shift in the earth when on Nov. 14 the southern hemisphere was hit by the huge quake around Kaikoura around 600 miles (965 km) north of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.

    For the first time since the natural disaster, scientists have been allowed into the area surrounding the epicenter, and discovered the massive Hadrian’s Wall-like rock formation which had sprung up as well as roads and fencing showing clearly how sections of the earth have shifted out of line.

    The first reconnaissance team from the University of Canterbury (UC), in New Zealand — comprised UC academics Professor Jarg Pettinga, Dr. Clark Fenton, Dr. Anekant Wandres, and Geology Ph.D. students Alan Bischoff and Andrea Barrier — was in the field quickly after last week’s huge quake.

    They ventured to Kaikoura and concentrated in the North Culverden Basin and an area called Mount Lyford.

    A second reconnaissance mission Nov. 18 saw Prof. Pettinga and Dr. Fenton joined by Dr. Kate Pedley and Dr. Narges Khajavi.

    As some pictures by Dr. Pedley show they covered an area of stunning Hobbit-like idyllic green New Zealand countryside torn apart by the earthquake.

    The team was covering an area from the western end of the Amuri Range, back across the Emu Plain and continued as far as the junction for Mt. Lyford Village.

    All roads beyond this point are closed and only passable by military vehicles.

    Dr. Kate Pedley, from UC, has been documenting the scientist’s progress and took some incredible pictures that show the earth itself has been warped and twisted by the effects of the huge quake.

    She said they were trying to find fault ruptures in the region around the original epicenter, and added, “Maybe not as flashy as the ruptures north of Kaikoura but a complicated 3-km-wide zone of numerous ruptures and associated structures.

    “Thankfully, those south and west of Waiau generally got off lightly, but it very quickly got messy for infrastructure to the northeast.

    “The amount of associated rockfall, landslides and slumps were incredible.”(SD-Agencies)