Cathedral Square, Christchurch
Cathedral Square, locally known simply as the Square, is the geographical centre and heart of Christchurch, New Zealand, where the city's Anglican cathedral, ChristChurch Cathedral is located. The square stands at the theoretical crossing of the city's two main orthogonal streets, Colombo Street and Worcester Street, though in practice both have been either blocked off or detoured around the square itself. The square was badly damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Cathedral Square in 2020
Cathedral Square in Christchurch, with ChristChurch Cathedral in the background prior to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake
A view of Cathedral Square from the ChristChurch Cathedral (2006)
Damage from the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake on the square
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand, after Auckland. Christchurch lies in the Canterbury Region, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains. It is located near the southern end of Pegasus Bay, and is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean and to the south by Banks Peninsula. The Avon River / Ōtākaro flows through the centre of the city, with a large urban park along its banks. Christchurch has a reputation for being an 'English' city, with its architectural identity and common nickname the "Garden City" due to similarities with garden cities in England.
Coat of arms
Image: Panorama of northern parts of Christchurch Central City, New Zealand
Image: View towards Akaroa from Little Akaloa Road, Canterbury, New Zealand
Image: Bridge of Remembrance 01