The newly created gorge as seen from the road.

Big earthquakes are known for reshaping the geography of a place, and checks done after Monday's 7.8 belter prove that this quake was no exception.

What looks like a lush gorge of greenery and vegetation, according to the Hurunui District Council, "never existed before".

According to a post on their Facebook page, "that gully never existed before... that 20 metre drop used to be level with the land on either side of it".

JIMMY PETRIE/FACEBOOK Water office Jimmie Petrie snapped photos of the new gully that has formed as a result of the earthquake.

The verdant valley can be seen from Sherwood Road.

READ MORE:

* NZ Earthquake: Were we prepared enough?

* Widespread damage to medium-rise buildings in Wellington 'expected'

* Live - 7.8 quake

The council confirmed that the one house close by is "very worse for wear".