Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef Glacier is 12 km long and covers an area of nearly 2000 ha. At it's terminal arises the Waiho River which measures 25 km in length and terminates in the Tasman Sea. The glacier was named after Franz Joseph of Austria, an Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia by Julius von Haast in 1865. The glacier's Maori name is Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere which translates to "The tears of Hine Hukatere". According to the legend, Hukatere lost her love, Wawe, to an avalanche when both climbed these mountains. Her tears froze and formed Franz Josef.
As any other glacier, Franz Josef performs a cycle of retreat and advance. However, it's flow rate is about ten times faster than in most other glaciers. Since 2012, experts warn to explore the glacier's tip. Flood waters, ice and rock falls may occur due to the melting ice sheets, especially during the summer months.
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier measures 13 km in length and drops from nearly 3000 m to about 300 m above sea level along its flow direction. It is situated 25 km south of Franz Josef Glacier was named after the former New Zealand Prime minister, Sir William Fox, when he visited the glacier in 1872. Fox Glacier is one of the few glaciers that end near a rainforest.
Since the industrial revolution, New Zealand's glaciers show increasing retraction rates. It is well known that they have thinned in size even though snow accumulation zones have risen during the 20th century. It is believed that the Southern Alps have already lost about 35% of their total ice volume due to global warming in the last forty years.