World’s Largest Glaciers by Continent

A large, slow-moving mass of ice that forms where snow falls at a greater rate, glaciers are the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth. Covering vast areas of the polar region and mountain ranges all over the world, we’ve decided to find the largest glacier on each continent. Following are the details:

North America – Hubbard Glacier

 

 

Hubbard is the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent. Hubbard has also been thickening and advancing toward the Gulf of Alaska ever since it was first mapped by the International Boundary Commission in 1895 (Davidson, 1903). And, this is happening despite climate change and the fact that many glaciers are thinning and retreating.

South America – Perito Moreno Glacier

90% of the world’s glaciers in Antarctica and Patagonia at the southern tip of South America are melting quickly. Argentina’s mighty Perito Moreno glacier is thriving in defiance of the global climate change. University of Alaska Fairbanks experts say the area’s heavy precipitation seems to have increased. This combined with strong, cold Patagonian winds has reinforced the glacier.

Europe – Vatnajokull Glacier

The Vatnajokull covers about 8% of Iceland with an average thickness of 400meter. Beneath the glacier are active volcanoes. Grimsvoth Volcano is Iceland’s most active – latest eruptions occured in 1996, 1998 and 2004.

Africa – Glaciers of Kilimanjaro

These glaciers may not be the biggest on the continent but they are definitely on the highest mountain of the continent. They were also the center of much global warming alarmist hype until it was proven that retreat and advance of glaciers is not caused by climate change as much as it is caused by overall changes in precipitation.

Asia – Siachen Glacier

Siachen glacier is the highest battleground on earth. It is a place where Pakistan and India always meet in a frozen standoff. It is the world’s largest non polar glacier, Siachen glacier is sometimes called third pole. This glacier is well known for its scarce population and treacherous climatic conditions.  Siachin boasts more than 2 trillion cubic feet of ice, and within 25 kms has 45 peaks which rise up to a height of 18000 feet.

Australia – Heard Island Glacier

Australia’s little known glaciers sit in sub-Antarctic Heard Island in the Indian Ocean. The area was discovered by US Captain William Heard in 1853. Scientists call the area an ideal laboratory for studying climate change – at the end of the Polar Zone and isolated from humans.

Antarctica – Lambert Glacier

Lambert along with Mellor and Fisher glaciers, which form the upper extension of the Lambert, the ice mass have been measured at 320 mi. long and over 40 mi. wide. “The Lambert drains into the massive Amery Ice Shelf at longitude 70 deg. E, approximately 1,400 mi. from the South Pole.”