Largest Glacier in India and World

This article provides info on the Largest Glacier in India and the world and also brief about the glaciers.

A glacier is a large mass of dense ice that has been formed over several years through the accumulation, compaction, and recrystallization of snow. The glaciers are found in regions where snowfall exceeds melting and evaporation over long periods, typically in polar and high-altitude mountain areas.

Glaciers are dynamic systems that flow slowly under their own weight due to gravity. Glaciers are an integral part of the hydrological cycle and play a significant role in shaping the Earth’s surface through erosion and deposition.

What is a Glacier?

Thus a glacier can be defined as a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity.

Key Features of Glaciers

Formation: Glaciers are formed when snow accumulates over time and compresses into firn (a granular intermediate stage between snow and ice) and eventually solid ice due to the pressure of overlying layers.

Movement: Glaciers flow slowly, either downhill (in alpine or valley glaciers) or outward in all directions (in ice sheets or continental glaciers). This movement is driven by gravity and the internal deformation of ice.

Erosion: As glaciers move, they erode the landscape by plucking rocks and debris and grinding the underlying surface in a process known as abrasion.

Types of Glaciers

• Alpine Glaciers: Found in mountain regions, flowing down valleys.
• Ice Sheets: Vast continental-sized glaciers, such as those in Antarctica and Greenland.
• Piedmont Glaciers: Form when valley glaciers spread out at the base of a mountain range.
• Ice Caps: Smaller versions of ice sheets, covering less than 50,000 square kilometers.

Glaciers can also be divided as

• Valley Glaciers: Found in mountain regions, these glaciers flow down valleys and are common in the Himalayas.
• Continental Glaciers: Huge masses of ice covering vast areas of land, such as those in Antarctica and Greenland.

Importance of Glaciers

• Freshwater Reservoirs: Glaciers store about 68% of the world’s freshwater.
• Climate Indicators: Their advance and retreat provide critical evidence of climate change.
• Impact on Landscapes: They contribute to the creation of unique landforms like U-shaped valleys and glacial lakes.

What Glaciers Create?

Glaciers play a significant role in shaping the Earth’s landscape by forming valleys, lakes, and mountains. For instance, the Great Lakes in North America were created by glacial activity millions of years ago. Additionally, glaciers serve as vital sources of freshwater, supplying rivers and oceans with meltwater.

Largest Glacier in the World

The largest glacier in the world is the Lambert Glacier located in East Antarctica. It’s over 400 kilometers long, 80 kilometers wide, and 2,500 meters deep.

• The Lambert Glacier is one of the world’s fastest-moving ice streams.
• It drains 8% of the Antarctic ice sheet.
• It flows from the Antarctic ice sheet to the Amery Ice Shelf.
• It’s sometimes called a “river of ice” because it flows from high to low elevation, like a river.

Top 5 Largest Glaciers in the World

Largest Glacier in India

Siachen Glacier is the largest glacier in India. It is 75 km long and is also the second-largest non-polar glacier on Earth. It is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas.

Also read about Yala Glacier located in Nepal, which is shrinking and may vanish by 2040s.

Checkout: Global Glacier Casualty List