Franz Josef Glacier - 12 km glacier in New Zealand

 Franz Josef Glacier (ang.Franz Josef Glacier) - 12 km glacier in New Zealand's Southern Alps, in the Westland National Park. Is part of the Te Vahipunamu - New Zealand Maori sacred area and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glacier itself in Maori called Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere, which means "tears Hinehukatere"

According to local legend, the Maori girl named Hinehukatere loved to climb the mountain, and somehow persuaded her lover Tave to go along with it.But they came under a landslide and her lover was killed. And tears of the poor girl gave birth to a glacier. Glacier first description was in 1859. with a pass off the coast of the ship "Marie-Louise". He named after the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph in 1865. German explorer Julius von Haast. Glacier interesting because, descending from the mountains, it passes through New Zealand wet forest. In addition, the Franz Josef Glacier - one of the "fastest" glaciers in the world, its ice "flows" at the speed of a 2m/sutki. melted ice at the foot of the river gives rise Vayho and feeds some of the surrounding lakes.source