While living in Greece, I used to find it challenging to pronounce Kounoupidiana. Those 13 letters are nothing compared to the Guinness World Record holder for the longest place name. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu is a hill in New Zealand. The hill is more commonly known by the shorter version of Te Taumata.
Videos by InspireMore
The sign announcing the nearly unpronounceable name of the hill is almost too long for one photo. When translated into English, the longest place name means, “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled [sic] about, played his nose flute to his loved one.”
Even the translation is a mouthful! The 85-letter Maori name has alternative spellings and ranges in length from 85 letters to 105 letters, depending on which version is in use. The hill, near Central Hawke’s Bay, is a favorite tourist attraction due to its long moniker. As a result, the Scott family, who owns the land, is planning some changes.
They would like to remove the current sign and move it to a nearby location with parking and rest facilities, including toilets. This would permit more public access to the site. The new location would also include the rich Maori history of the area.
The longest place name has been set to music with a catchy tune. Official maps of the region utilize a shortened version of the name. An official name change from 1948 only contains 57 letters. The shorter name appeared on the first map in 1955. However, locals and tourists continue using the longer 85-letter version.
If visiting the place with the longest name is on your adventure list, head out to Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu in New Zealand.
Please share.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
