Franz Josef Glacier, Temperate maritime glacier in Westland National Park, New Zealand.
Franz Josef Glacier is a glacier in Westland National Park on New Zealand's South Island, extending 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) through a steep valley. The ice mass flows from an elevation of 2500 meters (8200 feet) down through rainforest to 240 meters (790 feet) above sea level.
German geologist Julius von Haast named the glacier after Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1865 during an expedition studying German settlers. Since then, the glacier tongue has retreated and advanced multiple times, responding strongly to climate changes.
The Māori name Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere means the tears of Hine Hukatere and recalls a woman whose lover died in an avalanche. The legend tells that her tears froze into ice and shaped the glacier.
Guided walks depart from Franz Josef village, located 5 kilometers away, and helicopter flights offer aerial views of the ice formations. Access to the glacier area requires warm clothing and sturdy footwear, as weather can change quickly.
The area receives up to 15 meters of snowfall per year in the upper accumulation zone, one of the highest precipitation rates worldwide. This enormous snow mass causes the ice to flow faster than most other glaciers.
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