In many parts of the world, spring means a welcome thaw after the freezing cold of winter. But temperatures stay frigid all year long in some places. These include Antarctica, Greenland, and the peaks of high mountains.
Glaciers are born in those lands of constant cold. Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice. They exist where the winter brings more snow than summertime’s warmth can melt.
These spectacular forces of nature are important in many ways. Often called “rivers of ice,” they are a huge potential water source. They also give us a record of Earth’s climate. Wherever they are, they sculpt the landscapes beneath them. Scientists come to study them, while tourists, mountaineers, and others are drawn to their icy beauty.
Yet, glaciers are in trouble. Global warming is making them shrink and even disappear in some places. The results can be a disaster, not only for the animals that live on or near glaciers but also for human beings.
Let’s visit some of the most striking—and endangered—places on Earth.
