Many people enjoy challenging themselves by visiting difficult and dangerous places, such as glaciers. Glaciers are formed from snow through a series of changes and have strong erosive power, creating stunning landscapes. Below, we'll explore some of the world's most famous glaciers.
1. Athabasca Glacier
Located on the North American Continental Divide, the Athabasca Glacier is one of the world's most beautiful natural landscapes. It is the largest remnant of an ice sheet in the world outside of the Arctic Circle. The glacier is six kilometers long and one kilometer wide, with ice over a thousand meters thick that doesn't melt all year round. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting a large number of visitors every year.
2. Lambert Glacier
The Lambert Glacier is the largest and longest glacier in the world, located in Antarctica and discovered in 1956. This slow-moving glacier flows into the sea at an average rate of 350 meters per year. It has been isolated for millions of years, leading scientists to hope to discover a unique ecosystem here unlike any other on Earth.
3. Solhema Glacier
What makes the Solhema Glacier unique is the active volcano located underneath it, which could erupt at any moment. This gives travelers a sense of mystery, but it is not particularly dangerous and is a good place for glacier travel. For novice glacier travelers, the Solhema Glacier is a good choice, as it takes a few hours to traverse the ice sculptures and rock formations. There are no particularly challenging areas, and no specialized equipment is required.
4. Moreno Glacier
Located at the southern tip of South America, the Moreno Glacier is 20 stories high, stretches 30 kilometers, and is 200,000 years old. It originates from the 13,000 square kilometers of the South Patagonia ice field, which is the second-largest ice field outside of the world's polar circle. In the summer, visitors can often witness the "ice avalanche" spectacle.
5. Baltoro Glacier
The Baltoro Glacier is considered one of the most beautiful glaciers in the world. It stretches for 66 kilometers and covers an area of 895 square kilometers, ranking fourth in length and third in the area among the eight mountain glaciers in the middle and low latitudes.
With a vertical height difference of 5,100 meters, it has the second-largest glacier action after the Batola Glacier. If you plan to go trekking, make sure you have enough time to appreciate the overall beauty of the Baltolobin Pass.
6. Franz Josef Glacier
The Franz Josef Glacier is located in Westland National Park on the western part of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated in the vast Tiwasipunam World Natural Heritage Area of the South Island and is known as the most fashionable glacier in the world. While most glaciers are melting and shrinking, this one is growing.
The glacier boasts an exceptionally beautiful view, with a snow-capped landscape and turquoise trees growing around it. Connected to the sea along with the nearby Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier is known as one of the top ten glacier tourist destinations in the world.