12 Spectacular Glaciers To Witness Before They Disappear 2024

Some of the links might be affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. See our disclaimer for more info.

Visiting a glacier is a powerful way to experience the brute force of Mother Nature. Glacial action has carved out many of the world’s most stunning landscapes, namely valleys and fjords.

But if you want to see or even walk on a river of ice, then time isn’t on your side. The world’s glaciers are regressing at an alarming pace, with many predicted to disappear almost entirely by the end of the century.

From Alpine glaciers or the Sea of Ice in Europe to frozen rivers in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, and even India, here are a dozen to visit while you still can.

Gangotri Glacier, India

Save this!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

India might not be the first country to come to mind when thinking about glaciers, but Gangotri is close to Tibet’s border. It’s important as one of the major sources of the mighty Ganges, a river central to Indian culture.

Like others across the globe, Gangotri Glacier is retreating rapidly, which may have devastating consequences for those who depend on freshwater from the River Ganges. Take the week-long Gangotri-Gaumukh Tapovan trek if you want to explore this unspoiled part of India.

Pasterze Glacier, Austria

Over the past 100 years or so, Pasterze Glacier in Austria has retreated by around half. So get to this major natural attraction before it’s too late.

The area is ideal for immersing yourself in Alpine life, offering cable car rides, skiing in the mountains, and other wintry activities.

Grinnell Glacier, Montana

Get to Glacier National Park in Montana while you still can. The frozen wilderness is predicted to lose all its glacial masses by 2100.

In the past, you could walk directly onto the glacier itself here. But due to recession, this is no longer permitted.

Sólheimajökull, Iceland

Where better to see a river of ice than Iceland? Sólheimajökull is the most southerly in the country and has been shrinking for decades.

By 2100, it’s estimated that Icelandic glaciers will reduce by around 40%. If things continue as they are, they may disappear altogether by 2200. Tragically, taking an integral part of Icelandic life and the country’s landscape with them.

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Like others across the globe, Franz Josef in New Zealand’s South Island is a glacier you can no longer walk straight onto. Over the last 100 years or so, it has shrunk by a couple of miles.

12 miles to the south of this 7.5-mile river of ice, you can also find Fox Glacier.

Jostedalsbreen Glacier, Norway

The famous Norwegian fjords are the result of historic glacial activity, and at Jostedalsbreen Glacier, you can imagine how the lovely landscape was formed. It’s continental Europe’s biggest glacier.

It comprises close to 200 square miles of untouched wilderness. Due to climate change, though, it might split into smaller, separate glacial masses in the future.

Athabasca Glacier, Canada

The area where the Icefields Parkway road now runs was once covered by Athabasca in the Canadian Rockies. Over the past century and a quarter, its volume has reduced by around half.

It’s easy to see this one from your car while traveling the route, minimizing the effort required to witness glacial recession in action.

Grosser Aletsch, Switzerland

As you might expect, Switzerland’s wintery terrain is abundant in glacial masses. At 14 miles, Grosser Aletsch is the longest of the lot.

Since 1870, monitoring shows Grosser Aletsch has lost about 2 miles due to global warming and melting ice.

Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska

Alaska is home to around 27,000 glaciers, and one of the most accessible is Mendenhall. It’s over 13 miles long and around 12 miles from Juneau.

This is one of the best places in North America to learn about diminishing glaciers, with plenty of rangers on hand to talk to between May and September. The mile-long Trail of Time walk is a superb introduction and clearly shows the glacial shrinkage.

Mer de Glace, France

The literal Sea of Ice in the Chamonix Valley is France’s largest glacier, and it is easily accessible by train.

In the late 1980s, only a few steps were required to reach the ice at Mer de Glace. Now, there are hundreds to descend, clearly demonstrating glacial recession.

Grey Glacier, Chile

The Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, is home to the Grey Glacier, which flows into Grey Lake – or Lago Grey. The spectacular glacial mass is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

In 2017, Grey Glacier hit the headlines when a vast iceberg floated down into Grey Lake, clearly showing the devastating effects of climate change.

Jakobshavn Glacier, Greenland

Greenland’s Jakobshavn — or Ilulissat as it’s sometimes known – is notable for several reasons. In 1912, the iceberg that sank the Titanic is thought to have originated here.

The Greenland glacial mass could also contribute to rising sea levels more than any other geographical feature of the Northern Hemisphere. Today, it’s also responsible for about 10% of all icebergs in Greenland.