Story: Water resources

Melting Tasman Glacier

Melting Tasman Glacier

The Tasman Glacier is 27 kilometres long and up to 3 kilometres wide, making it New Zealand’s largest glacier. Due to rising average temperatures, the glacier is melting, adding millions of litres of water to the Waitaki River system. Nearly 50% of all New Zealand’s ice is contained in the 10 largest glaciers. These people are standing beneath the Tasman Glacier’s retreating edge.

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Alpine Recreation
Photograph by Gottlieb Braun-Elwert

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How to cite this page:

Mike Scarsbrook and Charles Pearson, 'Water resources - Rain, snow and ice', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18178/melting-tasman-glacier (accessed 21 April 2024)

Story by Mike Scarsbrook and Charles Pearson, published 24 Nov 2008