Story: Glaciers and glaciation

Tasman Lake

Tasman Lake

Throughout the 20th century the Tasman Glacier has gradually melted and thinned, and its surface has become covered in moraine (rock, sand and clay carried by the glacier). Tasman Lake began to form on the lowest section of the glacier in the mid-1980s, and has gradually grown, with icebergs floating on the surface. Water flows out of the lake into the Tasman River, and from there into Lake Pūkaki.

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GNS Science
Reference: CN22240
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Glaciers and glaciation - Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10733/tasman-lake (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 24 Sep 2007, updated 1 Apr 2021