The last major Wurm glaciation on Earth ended about 10 thousand years ago, leaving in memory of itself ice sheets on the continents and island archipelagos.
One of the most important conditions for the formation of glaciers is the combination of a large amount of precipitation with reasonably low temperatures. Several types of glaciers have formed on Earth, but our brief review of the largest glaciers on our planet.
Ostfonna. Norway
On one of the islands of the Spitsbergen archipelago, one of the largest glaciers in Europe spread its white ice.
Its area is 8,490 km2. In addition, massive ice rises to a height of over 700 meters above sea level.
Vatnaekul. Iceland
On the island of Iceland there is a glacier, the name of which from the Icelandic language translates as "glacier giving water." Its area is 8 133 km2, and in terms of ice volume it is the largest in Europe.
Here is also the highest point of Iceland, the peak of Hvannadalshnukur, which rises to a height of 2100 meters above sea level.
The ice caves of this glacier attract tourists with its beauty and charm.
Justedalsbreen. Norway
The thickness of the ice of this largest glacier of continental Europe in some places reaches 600 meters, and its area is 487 km2.
In the early 90s, a national park was created here. Two peaks glistening with people rise above the glacier - Högste Breakulen and the rocky peak of Lodalskop.
Alech. Switzerland
The southern slope of the Bernese Alps was covered by the ice of the Alech glacier, whose area is 117.6 km². The glacier descends from the mountains to the valley, forming picturesque white landscapes.
Natural splendor at the end of the twentieth century was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Schneeferner. Germany
In the Zugspitze massif in the very north of the Alps lies the highest glacier in Germany, occupying the Zugspitze plateau.
Since the 50s of the last century, the slopes of the glacier have been used for competitions in winter sports. In addition, it is a magnificent mountain resort.
Patagonian ice plateau
Argentina and Chile share among themselves the largest glacier in Latin America, whose area is 16800 km². The magnificent views of this white splendor are simply amazing.
When melting, streams form, which high up in the mountains form a unique large lake.
Malaspina. USA
The first thing that the members of the Bering expedition saw, sailing to the shores of Alaska, was a white peak towering above the expanses, which was named after St. Elijah.
It is on the slopes of this mountain that the Malaspin Glacier descends, covering an area of 4,275 km². Its edge stretches along the coast of the Pacific Ocean for 140 kilometers.
Fedchenko Glacier. Tajikistan
The largest Pamir glacier, named after explorer Alexei Fedchenko, spreads over an area of 700 km². It belongs to the mountain-valley type, and today it is the longest outside the polar regions of the Earth.
The glacier is located at an altitude of 6 thousand meters, and tributaries of great length descend into the mountain valleys.
Pastors Austria
In the mountain range, Grossglockner spread its ice glacier, in the name of which sound Slavic notes, and translates as "a place where grazing sheep."
The Austrians call it in their own way, Pasterze, and its area is 18.5 km². Since 1800, scientists have noted the melting of the glacier, which accelerated significantly at the beginning of the XXI century.
Gangotri. India
Of all the glacial masses of the Himalayas, we note the Gangotri glacier, which lies at the very border of India with China.
It reached a distance of 30 kilometers, and the width in some places reaches more than 5 kilometers. Despite the difficulty of climbing, this part of the Himalayas is a traditional place of pilgrimage for representatives of the Hindu faith.
Potanin Glacier. Mongolia
Among the most beautiful peaks of Altai, a glacier sheltered, named after the outstanding Russian ethnographer and geographer Grigory Potanin.
It stretches for 19 kilometers at the junction of two mountain ranges, and covers an area of 56.6 km².
Lambert Glacier. Antarctica
In the eastern part of Antarctica, the largest glacier in the world has spread its ice.
Its total length is 470 kilometers, and the largest ice thickness is more than 2.5 kilometers. Thus, it is not only the largest, but also the longest among its white relatives.
Glaciers form over a long period of time, and are constantly changing. Note, in conclusion, that 75% of the reserves of all fresh water are concentrated in all glaciers of the planet, and they cover 10% of the Earth’s area.
Article author: Valery Skiba