A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity and high pressure.
Ever seen a glacier? No? Welcome to an up-close look at the Fox Glacier, New Zealand (photographs from a 2006 trip):
No, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is indeed a temperate rainforest on both sides of the glacier:
At 13kms, Fox Glacier is the longest of the awe-inspiring New Zealand West Coast glaciers. At its head, soaring peaks of over 3,000m (10,000ft) dominate the vista. These include Aoraki (Mt Cook) and Mt Tasman, which, weather permitting, can be viewed on our heli-hiking experience. This mighty moving river of ice falls 2,600 metres, or a little over 8,000ft, on its journey from the base of the Southern Alps to the West Coast. New Zealand’s West Coast glaciers are unique and probably the most accessible glaciers in the world, as they terminate amongst temperate rainforest just 250m above sea level. So special is this mountain environment, that it forms part of the South Westland World Heritage Area.
And yes, the weather is always much better in the tourist brouchers than in real life! Yet, this was easily one of the most memorable vacation experiences I ever had anywhere.
3 responses so far ↓
Tragedy at Fox Glacier « View of My World // January 13, 2009 at 7:55 pm
[...] I posted my slide-show on The Fox Glacier on Jan 6th, I had no idea such a tragedy was even remotely possible at the [...]
John McGerr // March 16, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Nice photos of the glacier – I was there in 2005, went by helicopter. Like your experience it was very memorable.
Kishore Kumar // March 18, 2009 at 9:33 am
Not just the Fox glacier, my entire trip to New Zealand was very enjoyable. I was on a self-drive vacation around the south island, and it was very, very relaxing.
Apart from the glacier walk, a cruise on Milford Sound, a farm tour near Te Anau, and a visit to Mt. Cook were the other memorable experiences.