NZ's Tasman Glacier has cracking good time

NZ's Tasman Glacier has cracking good time
23 Aug 2010
Millions of tonnes of glacial icebergs are providing a rare spectacle on the Tasman Glacier terminal lake, in New Zealand’s South Island.

Spring melt over the last few days has seen 30 - 50 million tonnes of ice crash off the Tasman Glacier’s terminal face - a massive ‘calving’ that has produced 20 significant icebergs which are now floating in the terminal lake.

The process began when the glacier’s terminal face rose about 30 metres as a spring rain downpour lifted millions of tonnes of ice from the water across the 600-metre width of the face.

A small section of ice calved on 18 August, resulting in a massive and spectacular iceberg separating from the face. Sometime over the past weekend, the rest of the uplifted ice broke away in the biggest ever calving in the lake’s 35-year history.

Spectacular cruising
Local tourism operator Glacier Explorers, which takes passengers on cruises on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, will resume seasonal operations next week (3.09.2010) - one month ahead of schedule to take advantage of the magnificent new icebergs.

Visitors could look forward to the most spectacular iceberg and glacier cruising season yet, according to Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village tourism manager, Denis Callesen.

Tasman Lake was now full of icebergs with more than 20 that were 50m by 50m above the waterline, Callesen said.

"The scale of what’s happening here is just enormous. The biggest ‘berg is about 300m by 200m and 40m high - and that’s only the 10 per cent of the berg that we can see. Ninety per cent is below the waterline."

Callesen said the icebergs were "nature in action" and had taken on a life of their own "flipping, turning and moving as natural forces take action."

"Visitors will be able to get out onto the lake from early September and they will be in for a trip of a lifetime with sensational iceberg viewing. The current calving will give us ice to study for the next two seasons at least."

Glacier Explorers
Iceberg cruising on Lake Tasman is a ‘must-do’ activity for visitors to Aoraki Mount Cook. Apart from the icebergs, there are also spectacular alpine views and some of the best photographic opportunities in the national park.

Glacier Explorers 75-minute voyage offers a close up and personal view as the boat moves between the constantly moving icebergs.

Tasman Valley Tours provide a dry-land 4WD option with iceberg viewing from a high point on the moraine above the lake.

ENDS

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