The Forest of Christchurch

I love this sort of view in Christchurch. There are so many great trees that at the right elevation it looks more like a forest than a city. This is the view from Riccarton, looking towards the central city. The land between my vantage point and the CBD is flat. That is all trees, compressed by the long lens.

Soaring above the trees is the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Christchurch's tallest hotel at 26 storeys. It moved laterally about a metre in last month's earthquake and it now has a visible lean. The building is a major hazard in the Red Zone, with the potential to take many other buildings with it if it falls. It will have to be demolished.

More about the hotel- News story and photo or Video

Best seen large.


Edit: This was added later-

Christchurch Earthquake: here's a virtual flyover of Christchurch, just released to the public. Taken two days after the earthquake.


The central business district is to the right of the big park just below centre. (Looks like a navel in the initial view). The Avon River snakes its way through. A bit more to the right are two tree fringed squares, where an emergency hospital is set up. In the block below that is the ruined CTV Building. Three blocks to the left is Cathedral Square.

I found this image absolutely riveting and was able to explore parts of the city where only emergency workers and visiting VIPs have been able to see since the earthquake.