Glacial landscapes

Glacial landscapes

These images show two types of glacial landscape.

Top: At the head of Lake Wakatipu the twin peaks of Mt Earnslaw tower over the river flats. Huge glaciers filled these valleys until about 12,000 years ago, carving out the trough now filled by the lake. The Dart River carries a heavy load of gravel from the mountains, gradually building a delta into the lake.

Bottom: Drowned glacial valleys in Fiordland. The peaks around Dagg Sound rise only 1,100–1,200 metres above sea level, but their steep slopes make them seem much higher.