Dart Glacier

The névé of the Dart Glacier is located in a basin at the eastern end of the Snowdrift Range, between Plunket Dome, Islington Dome and Mount Māori. From this, the Dart flows in a south-westerly direction for roughly 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) before narrowing to less than 400 metres (1,300 ft) and turning to flow in a south-easterly direction down a steep icefall. From here, the glacier turns again to the southwest, before quickly reaching its terminus and the start of the Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu. Like the larger Haupapa / Tasman Glacier, the lower reaches of the Dart are covered in debris from past rockfalls on the surrounding mountains, obscuring the ice and giving it a grey colour.[3]

The topography and climate of the Dart Glacier make it particularly responsive to changes in conditions. Since 1915, the glacier has retreated approximately 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi), with historical records from the time showing the glacier extending further down the Dart Valley, connecting with the Hesse and Marshall glaciers in the process.[3]