Franz Josef Glacier

　　Franz Josef Glacier is a glacier located in the western region of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier, which lies 20 kilometers south of it, both glaciers originate from the Southern Alps and descend until they melt at an altitude of 240 meters, nourishing the surrounding temperate rainforest. The glacier area is one of the main tourist attractions on New Zealand’s West Coast, where visitors can explore the glacier without a guide. However, those wishing to climb the glacier will need specialized equipment such as ice axes, ice crampons, and special boots.

　　Another notable feature of Franz Josef Glacier is that, due to its proximity to the ocean, the local climate here is warmer than that of other glaciers around the world. The glacier currently stretches 12 kilometers in length and terminates 19 kilometers from the Tasman Sea. Since the balance between the melted snow and ice at the glacier’s end and the new snowfall that forms névé (also translated as glacier snow) is not always consistent, the glacier frequently cycles through periods of growth and retreat. In 2007, thanks to increased snowfall, Franz Josef Glacier was the only glacier in New Zealand that grew that year. Other glaciers, especially those located on the eastern side of the Southern Alps, have significantly retreated due to the effects of global warming.

　　Franz Josef Glacier Reason to visit: The only glacier in New Zealand that grew in 2007 Continent: Oceania [Oceania] Country/Region: New Zealand [New Zealand] Province/State: West Coast Region [West Coast Region]