While a journey down south to this land of chilling winds and eternal
ice is comparatively safer today, it is by no means a cake walk. All
the technology in the world will not guarantee you anything in this
harsh outback. So brace yourself as we take you through a rare, less
traveled and visually grand tour through the top 10 glaciers of
Antarctica…
Beardmore Glacier
The visually enchanting and colorful Beardmore Glacier is not just
one of the biggest glaciers in Antarctica, but ranks among the top in
the entire world in terms of its sheer size. Do not be fooled by its ice
cream-like looks as it can be as deadly as it appears beautiful.
Discovered in 1911-1912 by Captain Scott and his team, the glacier was
the reason that Scott slowed down, which led to Amundsen winning the
race to the pole.
Spreading
well over 160 km, this is no run of the mill glacier that you see in
the mountain chains; this one is an Antarctic special.
Images by augustallen and asoc
Erebus Ice Tongue
A mountain outlet glacier that projects 11-12 km into McMurdo Sound
from the Ross Island coastline near Cape Evan, this unusual tongue like
structure is fascinating and has interested explorers for decades. The
Erebus Ice Tongue is about 10 meters high and its formed glacier ice
stream flows rapidly into the sea, creating the mystical tongue that is
home to the planet’s most spectacular ice caves.
Expeditions to the depths of these stunning blue creations have
thrown up pictures that look out of the world. In short, here is one
glacier that is a photographer’s nirvana.
Axel Heiberg Glacier
Discovered
in November 1911 by Captain Amundsen, this is a glacier of significant
historical importance as it was one of the reasons for Amundsen’s
victory on his race to the South Pole. The sights of this 48 km glacier
valley are chilling, often inhospitable and descending from the polar
plateau to the Ross Ice Shelf, the glacier’s imposing presence is
unmistakable.
Etched in history forever, you will have to brave some harsh weather to actually get here.
Canada Glacier
The Canada Glacier might pale in comparison to the Beardmore in
magnitude, might have far less sights to offer compared to Erebus and
might not be as harsh as Axel Heiberg, but that is what makes this small
polar glacier, flowing southeast into the northern side of Taylor
Valley in Victoria Land, so special.
The glacier’s edge has been a center for scientific studies because
the conditions here for a few months of the year are far more generous
than in the deep heart of the main island. The sights and sounds here
are far livelier than at any other spot.
Crescent Glacier
Staying with Taylor Valley in the Victoria part of Antarctica,
Crescent Glacier is as beautiful as the name indicates. When watched
from across the Lake Fryxell, not too far away from the Glacier, it
presents a vividly attractive and sensuously shaped crescent for your
viewing pleasure.
The Alpine glacier has been studied extensively for its geological
significance and its one-of-a-kind picture perfect curves will woo any
tourist to stop and take a closer look. The view of Lake Fryxell and the
glacier is well worth the journey.
Image by wikipedia
Harker Glacier
We continue our journey towards a whole different kind of wonder with
Harker, which is a tidewater glacier on South Georgia Island in the
southern Atlantic Ocean.
Hawker has over the decades advanced further into the bay due to
warming conditions, but still remains the most impressive and grand
glacier on the eastern side of Cumberland Bay. The pleasing blend of
white and dark sea blue, force you to believe that nature has painted
one of its most appealing work on the planet’s canvas!
Image by Wikipedia
Koettlitz Glacier
Discovered by British National Antarctic Expedition in 1901 and
located west of Mount Morning and Mount Discovery, the impressive and
surreal glacier of Koettlitz, floors you with its sheets of ice that
look more akin to waves that are ready to hit the beach. The best view
of this huge glacier is obviously aerial and once you take a look, you
will be hooked to the splendor and the vastness of the striking
landscape.
Image by Wikipedia
Wulfila Glacier
Though not very well known or very popular, this 3 km wide glacier
located on Greenwich Island offers you plenty of picture perfect snap
shots in its small area. The fact that this is not as large as the other
glaciers should not make you feel any less excited as its refreshing
presence offers you a multitude of sight and sounds to savor. Definitely
worth a stop on our journey.
Image Wikipedia
Glacier David and Drygalski Ice Tongue
David Glacier is known for its imposing presence on the Victoria
Land, and its well-known Drygalski Ice Tongue is a feature that has kept
this enormous glacier in the limelight.
Part of its famous ice tongue was smashed into the sea due to a
collision with an iceberg in 2005, leaving several penguin colonies on
the broken shelves stranded in the sea.
Lambert Glacier
Stretching over 60 miles wide, over 250 miles long and about 2,500
meters deep, here’s the big daddy of all the glaciers on the planet.
Holder of Guinness World record for being the world’s biggest glacier,
the entire giant is actually visible from space wide and clear! First
delineated and named in 1952 by American geographer John H. Roscoe, the
glacier stands as a symbol of the grand majesty and unrivaled
magnificence of this extraordinary continent that Antarctica truly is.
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