Giants ice kingdom

Most spectacular glaciers in the world Sarah Stodola, journalist When my colleague, Bernadette Smith, during his annual trip to South America visited is located at 48 miles (77 kilometers) from the Argentine town of El Calafate Perito Moreno Glacier, it was absolutely stunned by the immensity of the ice mass This is, without exaggeration, the miracle of light. "The impression was overwhelming, and I definitely can not call a glacier one of the main attractions of Argentina" - she says. But, with the impending reality of global warming, this impression may soon become unavailable to the inhabitants of our planet. Perito Moreno is the so-called temperate glacier. "The temperature of temperate glaciers is almost equal to the melting temperature of the water, so even a slight change of climate has a tremendous influence on them", - said Bruce Lightning, Researcher, U.S. Geological Survey, who has spent studying glaciers and other matters relating to the global circulation of water, more than 40 years . "Moderate glaciers are extremely sensitive indicators of climate change. Currently, more than 99% of them have declined in size. Glaciers are dynamic masses, that is, they are always in motion, advancing or retreating. But their retreat worry scientists for decades. Sam Perito Moreno is one of the most stable temperate glaciers. Nevertheless, he is an exception: out of about 50 glaciers in southern Patagonia are moving only three (and the Perito Moreno - one of them). The same thing is happening all over the world - most of the standard temperate glaciers is in jeopardy. Kilimanjaro, along with his ice Furtvangler once extremely inspired Hemingway and thousands of others, not as gifted literary visitors. Chances are that after 10 ... 15 years, all the inhabitants of the earth from the white miracle will remain only a memory. In the Alps, glaciers are already retreating for hundreds of years (although none of them has not disappeared entirely). The largest Austrian glacier Paztertse clearly represents the processes occurring in the region. He retreats from the mid 19 th century, and by 2100, could lose up to 60 percent of its volume. In Alaska, back down eight of the nine largest glaciers. "Of course, the glaciers of the world are completely gone," - says the Lightning. Temperate glaciers are less than one percent of the total global ice. Others are polar glaciers, which is below the freezing point at several tens of degrees, and therefore less susceptible to increased global warming. Some polar glaciers could be reduced, especially those who come into contact with the ocean, but as soon as they disappear. Ironically, the melting ice leads to an increase in tourism in Antarctica. Expected number of tourists next year is 35000, which is many times greater than the attendance of the white continent, ten or twenty years ago. Most of the tourists arrives by ship from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula, where "the services" of tourists - all the more accessible mountains, bays, glaciers and icebergs. In 1991 he established the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators in order to prevent environmental damage due to visit the continent's people. You can ask yourself, in this case, should all the tourists visiting the glaciers? According to the Lightning, as a result of the influx of tourists glacier is applied, though modest, but significant direct damage. In fact, according to Lightning, the Antarctic glaciers are suffering from the effects of the increasing amount of waste: discharge of petroleum products, pollution and many other factors. To protect the icy continent passed several laws, but now they have proved almost totally ineffective. Perhaps, the glaciers are very dangerous for tourists than tourists to glaciers. "Every year three or four tourists die due to a fall in the crevasses of glaciers or streams channels on their surface, such streams are called Moulin" - says the Lightning. Those who are not familiar with the landscape and the composition of glaciers, be sure to hire a guide. "Independent tour on your first glacier is not reasonable to act," - says the scientist. As for the majority of the most visited glaciers in the world, there is no need to climb on them to feel their beauty. For example, the Perito Moreno has three special viewing platforms constructed to minimize the risk to tourists. Some tourists are very lucky, they saw with their own eyes how the glacier break off huge chunks of ice and rapidly plunged into Lake Argentino. Good opportunity for fans of ice masterpieces created in North America. For example, in Alaska tourists can travel on a ship in Glacier Bay, and one day see a lot of major glaciers, including the spectacular glaciers of the massive Margerie and Grand Pacific. See also: Land Basin biggest edifice that was built on the planet living beings ... It flows from the rocks water ordinary record of a tsunami wave height Desert-record the largest lake in the world based on the volume and surface area record highs over the world have a rival Everest! 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