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A glacier is a perennial mass of ice which moves over land. Alpine glaciers form on mountain slopes and are also known as mountain, niche or cirque glaciers. An Alpine glacier that fills a valley is referred to as a Valley glacier.

Glaciers occur on every continent and approximately 47 countries. Extensive glaciers are found in Antarctica, Chilean Patagonia, Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Mountain glaciers are widespread, e.g., in the Andes, the Himalaya, the Rocky Mountains, the Caucasus, and the Alps. On mainland Australia no glaciers exist today, although a small glacier on Mount Kosciuszko was present in the last glacial period, and Tasmania was extensively glaciated. The South Island of New Zealand has many glaciers including Tasman, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. In New Guinea, small, rapidly diminishing, glaciers are located on its highest summit massif of Puncak Jaya. Africa has glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, on Mount Kenya and in the Ruwenzori Range.

Permanent snow cover is affected by factors such as the degree of slope on the land, amount of snowfall and the winds. As temperature decreases with altitude, high mountains - even those near the Equator - have permanent snow cover on their upper portions, above the snow line. Examples include Mount Kilimanjaro and the Tropical Andes in South America; however, the only snow to occur exactly on the Equator is at 4,690 m (15,387 ft) on the southern slope of Volcán Cayambe in Ecuador.

Conversely, areas of the Arctic, such as Banks Island, and the Dry Valleys in Antarctica are considered polar deserts, as they receive little snowfall despite the bitter cold. Cold air, unlike warm air, is unable to transport much water vapor. Even during glacial periods of the Quaternary, Manchuria, lowland Siberia, and central and northern Alaska[27], though extraordinarily cold with winter temperatures believed to reach −100 °C (−148.0 °F) in parts, had such light snowfall that glaciers could not form.

In addition to the dry, unglaciated polar regions, some mountains and volcanoes in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina are high (4,500 metres (14,800 ft) - 6,900 m (22,600 ft)) and cold, but the relative lack of precipitation prevents snow from accumulating into glaciers. This is because these peaks are located near or in the hyperarid Atacama desert.

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What glaciers are now located only on polar regions?

Glaciers that are now only located in polar regions include the Greenland Ice Sheet in the Arctic and glaciers in Antarctica. These ice formations are subject to melting and disintegration due to climate change, which poses a threat to sea levels and ecosystems worldwide.


Are there any rock glaciers in the US?

Yes, there are rock glaciers in the US, mainly in the western states like Alaska, Montana, and Washington. These formations are found in high-altitude regions where the climate supports the presence of permafrost and rocks mixed with ice flow down valleys, resembling glaciers.


Do glaciers make lakes?

no. mountains are formed by volcanism or plate tectonics - upwellings of magma that push the earth upward or pressure between tectonic plates which folds the earth into mountain ranges at the boundaries. However, glaciers did gouge out valleys between mountains.


What are some natural resources the mountains and basins have?

Mountains and basins regions typically have natural resources such as minerals (copper, silver, zinc), oil and gas deposits, water resources (rivers, lakes), and timber. These regions may also have geological formations suitable for recreation and tourism activities.


True or false the climate on even the tallest mountains near the equator is too warm for glaciers to form?

The climate covers areas in or near the polar regions, such as Antarctica and around the north and south pole, and on the top of the highest mountains.

Related Questions

What are glaciers formed in mountains called?

Glaciers formed in mountains are called mountain glaciers or alpine glaciers. They are found in high-altitude regions and flow downhill through valleys.


What glaciers are now located only on polar regions?

Glaciers that are now only located in polar regions include the Greenland Ice Sheet in the Arctic and glaciers in Antarctica. These ice formations are subject to melting and disintegration due to climate change, which poses a threat to sea levels and ecosystems worldwide.


Which new york regions contain mountains?

The Adirondack mountains are located in the northeastern region of New York.


What is a long narrow glacier that forms between mountains?

A long narrow glacier that forms between mountains is called a valley glacier. These glaciers flow down valleys, eroding the surrounding landscape as they move. Valley glaciers are common in mountainous regions around the world.


What of These long narrow glaciers form between mountains and are common in the Alps and the Andes.?

These long narrow glaciers are called valley glaciers. They form when snow accumulates in a valley and slowly turns into ice, flowing downhill under the force of gravity. Valley glaciers are often found between mountains in regions like the Alps and the Andes.


What landform do all the states with silver deposits have in common?

Many states with silver deposits have mountainous regions in common. These mountainous areas often contain geological formations that are conducive to silver mineralization, such as fault lines, veins, and igneous intrusions.


Are there any rock glaciers in the US?

Yes, there are rock glaciers in the US, mainly in the western states like Alaska, Montana, and Washington. These formations are found in high-altitude regions where the climate supports the presence of permafrost and rocks mixed with ice flow down valleys, resembling glaciers.


These glaciers are sometimes called icecaps?

These are glaciers that cover a large area but have a relatively low profile. They are often found in polar regions or high mountains and are commonly referred to as ice caps due to their shape and size.


What type of region is Argentina?

Argentina goes from near the Equator to Antarctica, so you have all sorts of regions, Mountains, beach, woods, glaciers, deserts...etc.


Where is the fresh water stored on the Earth?

Glaciers. Glaciers are the enormous reservoirs of frozen water on the hat of the planet. on the top. Northern regions of the world. all the fresh water springs down from those regions to the south of the planet. lakes, rivers, mountains, valleys carry the water through out the lands. This is the reason why water has always been a problem in Africa. the region is cut off from the main flow of water and there are no rivers to provide. even in the southern regions like South Asia, South Africa mountains have huge glaciers that melt periodically and provide fresh water.


How did glaciers affect Canada?

in new foundland


Do glaciers make lakes?

no. mountains are formed by volcanism or plate tectonics - upwellings of magma that push the earth upward or pressure between tectonic plates which folds the earth into mountain ranges at the boundaries. However, glaciers did gouge out valleys between mountains.