Famous Glaciers of the World

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An estimated 75 percent of the world's freshwater supply is locked in glacial ice.
Glaciers around the world attract a lot of tourists throughout the year. Long stretches of pristine white landscape and tranquil air is enchanting and spellbinding. For a long time, glaciers have captured the fantasy of the adventure-seeking travelers, but in recent times, they have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In the past few years, global warming has raised serious concerns about the depletion of the Earth's glacial regions. Due to the rise in the overall temperature of our planet over the last decade, glacial ice is melting faster, and as a result, the glaciers are receding.

Lambert Glacier, Antarctica
Antarctica is home to hundreds of awe-inspiring glaciers. It is the world's largest ice sheet covering an area of 14,000,000 square kilometers. Being 60 miles wide and 250 miles long, Lambert Glacier in Antarctica holds the title of being the largest glacier in the world. This glacier is very important for the study of climate change. Little variations in the temperature can have a significant impact on the flow of a glacier.Vatnajkull Glacier, Iceland
Vatnajkull Glacier is the largest glacier in Iceland, and is the largest ice cap in Europe, with an area of 8,100 km, and a volume of 3,100 sq. km. Covering around 8% of the country's area, Vatnajkull Glacier has several active volcanoes underneath it. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Named after the explorer Francis Moreno, the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the major tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia. Spread over an area of 250 sq. km., and stretching over 30 km. in length, it is the world's third-largest freshwater reserve. This glacier is one of three Patagonian glaciers that is expanding.Glacier Bay, Alaska
Till the early 18th century, Glacier Bay was a large single glacier of solid ice. Today, it covers an area of 3,560 sq. km. of glacier, and comprises 27% area of the Glacier Bay National Park. Over the last two centuries, it has retreated over 105 km.Furtwngler Glacier, Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Situated on the cap of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Furtwngler is the most famous glacier in Africa. Over the last century, most of the glacial ice has disappeared. What remains today is just 12% of what used to crown the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro a century ago. The disappearance of the glacier has raised huge concern among environmentalists and glaciologists, and it is said that at the current rate of retreat, the glacier might disappear by the year 2020.Pasterze Glacier, Austria
One of the major tourist attractions in Austria, Pasterze Glacier is Austria's longest glacier, and also the longest in the Eastern Alps. It is around 8.5 km. in length, with an area of 18.5 sq. km., but is retreating at the rate of 10 meters every year. The glacier is in the vicinity of Austria's largest mountain - Grossglockner, and hence, is very popular among hikers.Yulong Glacier, China
Part of the Yulong mountains, more popularly known as the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yulong Glacier is situated in the Yunnan province of China. It is among the most difficult glaciers to climb because of its altitude, and hence, it is popular among seasoned mountaineers who are looking for a challenging hike. Yulong Glacier is also retreating since the 1980s, and many Chinese scientists predict that it might be gone in another 50 years time.Fox Glacier, New Zealand
Named after the Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1872, Sir William Fox, Fox Glacier is one of the most popular and easily accessible glaciers in New Zealand. Situated on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, Fox Glacier is 13 km. in length, and is expanding since the year 1985.Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Just 25 km. away from the Fox Glacier is another of New Zealand's famous glacier, Franz Josef. Named after the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I, it runs over a stretch of 12 km., and is the steepest glacier in New Zealand. It is just 300 meters above sea level, and lies amidst the lush green beauty of a temperate rainforest.Mendenhall Glacier, United States
Mendenhall Glacier is situated in the Mendenhall Valley in the state of Alaska, United States. It stretches over a length of around 19 km., but recent data proves that it has been retreating, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.Athabasca Glacier, Canada
Athabasca Glacier, located in the Canadian Rockies, is one of the most visited glaciers in all of North America. This glacier is 6 km. long, covering an area of around 6 sq. km., but is said to be receding at the rate of 3 meters every year.Hubbard Glacier, United States/ Canada
Located in Alaska and part of Canada, Hubbard Glacier is one of the fast expanding glaciers, and one of the most popular attractions of North America. Stretching over a length of 122 km., Hubbard Glacier, it the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent. It offers a sight to behold, but hiking on the glacier is not allowed.Jostedalsbreen Glacier, Norway
Spread over an area of around 487 sq. km., with its length being 60 km., Jostedalsbreen Glacier in Norway is the largest glacier in continental Europe. It is a part of the Jostedalsbreen National Park, that was established in the year 1991.Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland
Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier on the Swiss Alps, covering an area of 120 sq. km., and spread over a length of around 24 km. The glacier is a part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2001.Langjkull Glacier, Iceland
Langjkull Glacier, which literally translates to 'long glacier', is the second-largest glacier in Iceland, only after Vatnajkull Glacier. It is spread over an area of around 950 sq. km.Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan
Located in the Karakoram mountain range in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, Baltoro Glacier is 62 km. long, making it one of the longest glaciers that is not situated in a polar region. Other glaciers worth mentioning in the Karakoram range are India's Siachen Glacier and Pakistan's Biafo Glacier.Portage Lake Glacier, United States
A part of the Chugach National Forest, Portage Glacier is situated in the state of Alaska in the United States. It stretches over a length of nearly 10 km., but recent stats show that it is retreating.These were some of the famous glaciers in the world. Now is the time to visit and explore these natural wonders, because if global warming has its way, then probably by the end of the century, most of these glaciers will be wiped out from the face of our planet.