The Fox Glacier melts and a river emerges from its terminal face, creating an ice cave. On this day, Loud crashing noises came from the cave as lumps of ice fell from its roof. Melting was faster than usual because heavy rain had fallen the night before.
Precipitation as snow high in the alps will make the glacier advance, but not until months or years after the storm. The immediate effect at lower levels, where the precipitation is rain, makes the glacier melt and retreat. The rain water penetrates the many cracks in the glacier and warms it. Huge blocks of ice washed out from the glacier were still sitting in the river bed to the right of the terminus.
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