There are 200,000 glaciers worldwide, and they currently cover 10% of the Earth's surface. In this article, we'll take a look at ten massive glaciers in the world, some of which are accessible for hiking and climbing.
Batura glacier
In Pakistan, the Batura Glacier is located in the Gojal region of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Batura glacier is 56 kilometers long . Getting to Batura is difficult: trekking on the glacier will take about five days, depending on the weather and your fitness level.
Jostedal glacier
9th largest in the world: its length is 60 kilometers . Located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Norway, it is accessible for climbing.
South Inylchek glacier
Located in the mountains of the Central Tien Shan in the Issyk-Kul region (in the north-east of Kyrgyzstan and China). Its length is 61 kilometers .
Baltoro glacier
Located in Pakistan, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The length is 62 kilometers . Baltoro is the source of the Shigar River, which flows into the Indus River.
Biafo glacier
Located in the Karakorum mountain range in Pakistan. Its length is 63 km . Melt water from the Biafo glacier flows into the Indus River, one of the largest and most important rivers in India. At the head of the Biafo glacier is the Snow Lake.
Bryggen glacier
The giant glacier in southern Chile is 66 kilometers long. The Bryggen Glacier, named after the German geologist Juan Bryggen Messtorf, flows out of the South Patagonian Icefield. This is the most massive outflow to the West.
Siachen glacier
Located between India and Pakistan, on the line of control between the two countries. The Siachen Glacier is 75 kilometers long . Its location is notorious for power struggles between the governments of India and Pakistan. In fact, the Siachen Glacier is "the tallest, deadliest and most costly battleground," according to the India Times.
Fedchenko glacier
It is the largest non-polar glacier. Located in Tajikistan. With a length of 77 kilometers, this is perhaps one of the magnificent sights of the Karakorum mountain range. It is named after the 19th century explorer A.P. Fedchenko, who first explored it in 1928 as part of a Soviet expedition to the Pamirs. Over the years, several meteorological stations have been located here. The Fedchenko glacier originates in the Peak Revolution ice field.
Hubbard Glacier
Its length is 122 kilometers . It is called the "galloping glacier" because it rushes towards the Gulf of Alaska at breakneck speed. You can take a boat cruise to this glacier, where you can get close enough to hear it melt.
Lambert-Fischer glacier
The largest glacier on the planet, Lambert-Fischer, is located in Antarctica. This is the coldest place in the world in general. 400 kilometers long.
