Searching for the unique blue sky on Earth

Glaciers are the "royalty" of nature

They are high above

Wearing a diamond crystal crown

Looking down at the world beneath my feet

In the minds of many people

Glaciers are synonymous with high altitude, mystery and remoteness.

It is a world that only explorers and scientists can touch.

But the Chinese are experienced connoisseurs of famous mountains and rivers.

How can we remain indifferent to glaciers?

Therefore, this seemingly unattainable existence

It has been turned into a niche tourist destination by brave geographers.

In geography

A glacier is defined as a compacted accumulation of snowfall over many years in a cold region.

Formed after metamorphism

Natural ice with a certain shape and the ability to move on its own

Considerable snowfall and freezing temperatures

The main factor in the development of glaciers

The glaciers on Earth are located outside of the North and South Poles.

Can only exist in cold mountains at high altitudes

◎ The Gasherbrum Glacier flowing down from the Karakoram Mountains meets the Keleqing River Valley, creating a secret place deep in the mountains. The front of the majestic glacier has built a long natural ice barrier, like the wall of the mountain god's ice palace. Because it is the dry season, the flat riverbed can be used as a camping site for camel caravans. In the season when the glacier meltwater rushes down, this place will be flooded by the surging river. (Photo by Hao Pei, from "National Geographic China" January 2011)

Chinese glaciologist Shi Yafeng proposed

Glaciers are divided into continental glaciers and maritime glaciers

Continental glaciers are found in the interior of continents with dry climates.

Glaciers rely mainly on the cold storage conditions provided by low temperatures to survive

Located on permafrost

It has the characteristics of high snow line, low temperature and slow glacier movement.

◎ Muztagh Ata Glacier in West Kunlun Mountains

Muztagh Ata, a block mountain with a rounded peak and known as the "Father of Icebergs", has developed typical flat-topped glaciers (i.e. ice caps). The glaciers here are pure white, crystal clear and have high ornamental value. There are 32 peaks above 6,000 meters around the main peak of Muztagh Ata (7,509 meters above sea level), and 139 modern glaciers have developed. The West Kunlun Mountains, where Muztagh Ata is located, is one of the coldest and driest areas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Among all the glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the continental climate characteristics of the glaciers in the West Kunlun Mountains are the most obvious. At the same time, the West Kunlun Mountains are also the area with the most flat-topped glaciers in my country. (Photography/Li Xiang, from "National Geographic China" October 2021)

Marine glaciers are distributed in areas that are greatly affected by the moist air currents from the ocean.

The end of the glacier can extend into the forest belt

There are ice worms, ice fleas and other creatures on the ice and snow

It has the characteristics of low snow line, high temperature and fast glacier movement.

◎ The Hailuogou Glacier in Mount Gongga is very active. The sufficient supply and strong melting are the magic of nature. Together, they have shaped the magnificent glacier scenery. The low altitude characteristics of marine glaciers allow ordinary people to experience this wonderful world of ice. (Photo by Huang Shigui, from "National Geographic China" December 2010)

Glacier Landscape Highlights

● Ice Tongue●

Glaciers are formed by snow on high mountains

Every summer, the

Moves downward due to its own gravity

The lower end of a glacier is shaped like a tongue and is called an ice tongue.

The glacier tongue is the most active area of ​​glaciation.

It is also the melting zone of glaciers.

The ice tongue seems soft on the surface.

But in reality it is indestructible

It cuts through the rocks on both sides of the valley as it advances.

Take them far downstream

◎ Mingyong Glacier extends in an arc from the Kawagebo Peak to the forest area at an altitude of 2,660 meters. It is a rare low-latitude and low-altitude glacier on the earth. When you look at the Meili-Taizixue Mountain from the east, it is also the symbol of the Kawagebo Peak - follow this ice tongue upwards, and the pyramid-shaped peak standing at the source of the glacier is Kawagebo. (Photo by Xu Jinyan, from "National Geographic China" July 2004)

● Ice Tower●

Seracs are towering icicles that line the surface of glaciers.

The height of the seracs ranges from a few meters to more than 30 meters, and their shapes vary.

It can be like a hill or a pyramid.

It can also be like a towering castle or a sword piercing the blue sky.

Due to the different speeds of movement of different parts of the glacier

or changes in the underlying surface

Create some cracks and fissures on the glacier surface

These vertical and horizontal cracks divide the glacier into ice blocks.

To create a variety of ice towers

It also depends on the changes in sunlight at different times and angles.

The imbalance caused by the ablation

This makes the ice tower independent, tall and magnificent

◎ Rongbuk Glacier is the largest and most famous glacier at the foot of Mount Everest. There are many seracs on the glacier. The milky white seracs rise from the ground. Some are like pyramids, some are like ancient temple bell towers, and some are like swords. They are very ornamental. (Photo by Zhang Yuxiao, from "National Geographic China" January 2011)

● Horn Peak●

Glaciers can shape the peaks of mountains

Mainly relying on the power of glacial erosion

Erosion through tracing

Cirques continue to expand and retreat

The hillside was significantly eroded

Remaining ridges between adjacent cirques

It becomes a sharp blade

A remnant mountain usually sandwiched between three or more cirques.

It became a peak

The horn peaks are mostly distributed in plateau areas where glaciers exist.

The perfect pyramid shape is their common feature

◎ Schematic diagram of the formation of the horn peak (drawing by Tan Xiguang, from "National Geographic China" November 2019)

● Glacier Cave●

Where water meets glacier

Will collide to create a magical landscape - glacier cave

Meltwater appears on the surface of the glacier in summer

Seeping down through cracks and sinkholes in the glacier's surface

We made our way to the bottom of the glacier.

Gathered where glaciers meet bedrock

Spreading to both sides

Meltwater layer at the bottom of the glacier

These bodies of water find their outlet in the ice tongue at the end of the glacier.

Break out of the hole

An open ice cave is formed.

◎ Dongga Ice Cave - Entering the magical blue ice cave, it feels like being in an alien world

The ice tongue of Dongga Glacier melted into a huge arch-like ice cave, with the glacier flowing out slowly from below. Looking closely at the arch, it looks like a faint blue ice crystal. Entering it, the transparent and deep blue tone looks very magical. The temperature of the ice cave is very low, and you can faintly hear the sound of ice water dripping. (Photo by Li Heng, from "National Geographic China" September 2018)

Unexpected Glacier Tour Destinations

China is the country with the most developed glaciers in the middle and low latitudes in the world

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has an average altitude of 4,000-5,000 meters.

and other tall mountain ranges in western China

Provides a good foundation for glacier development

Thousands of glaciers are developing

◎ Comparison of glacier areas in mid- and low-latitude zones (Photo from China National Geographic, December 2010)

● “The glacier here is not too cold” ●

The glacier of Mount Gongga is a "not too cold" glacier

In terms of temperature

The glaciers here are typical "warm" glaciers.

The temperature of the glacier is close to zero degrees Celsius

In summer and autumn

Even wearing a thin shirt

You can also freely wander in this bizarre ice world

Lower organisms such as algae and snow fleas can also grow on glaciers.

Even plants can boldly extend their roots into the ice

At the same time, the glaciers here are particularly friendly

They are only more than 200 kilometers away from Chengdu.

Hailuogou No. 1 Glacier is the lowest glacier at the same latitude in China.

The lowest point is less than 3,000 meters above sea level

Able to go deep into the primeval forest

Even ordinary people without mountaineering experience

You can also experience the infinite charm of the glacier here

◎ In the mist, a magnificent glacier swam out from the mountaintop like a giant white dragon, unstoppable. With a humid climate and abundant rainfall, the towering and steep Gongga Mountain is the home of glaciers. The unique conditions have brought powerful vitality to the glaciers here. They are like huge files, constantly shaping and changing the appearance of the mountains. (Photo by Hu Xiaoliu, from "National Geographic China" December 2010)

● “The most beautiful scenery in the village” ●

Along the busy National Highway 318

The quiet side of Ranwu Lake

There is a Tibetan village called Laigu Village

Because it is surrounded by the ancient glaciers that look like giant dragons.

Known as "the most beautiful village"

In Tibetan, Laigu means a hidden paradise.

Here you can see

Yalong Glacier, Dongga Glacier, Ruojiao Glacier, Meixi Glacier,

The Xiongru Glacier, the Niuma Glacier and other glaciers and snow-capped mountains complement each other

These glaciers are collectively known as the Laigu Glacier Group

They developed around the Gangri Gabu Mountains.

Marine glaciers

You can see it at the entrance of Laigu Village.

Yalong Glacier located on the eastern foot of the main peak of Gangri Gabu Mountain

It is the largest and widest of the ancient glaciers, about 12 kilometers long.

On the Yalong Glacier

You can see almost all glacial landforms such as glaciers, ice tongues, moraine lakes, etc.

The main landscape is a black and white S-shaped runway.

Two moraine lakes at the middle moraine and the end of the ice tongue

◎ Overlooking the Yalong Glacier from the ancient village, the iconic S-shaped glacier is particularly clear

Ice blocks are constantly breaking off from the ice tongue at the front of the Yalong Glacier and falling into the lake. Compared with continental glaciers, which have a larger proportion of accumulation areas in high-altitude areas, the marine glaciers around Laigu are located at a lower altitude, and the entire glacier surface experiences strong melting in the summer, showing a more obvious retreat. This is also a very rare place where glacier melting can be easily observed. (Photo by Wang Ning, from "National Geographic China" September 2018)

● “World-class Glacier Scenic Avenue”●

National Highway 219 is 10,065 kilometers long

It is the longest national highway in my country.

From the Altai Mountains in the northernmost part of my country

Go to Shangri-La, Yunnan, the southernmost secret place of ice and snow in Eurasia

This national highway runs along the northwest and southwest borders of my country.

Crossing different types of glaciers

From subcontinental glaciers, continental glaciers to marine glaciers

my country's glaciers are also divided into the above three types

Therefore, on this national highway

You can enjoy all types of glacier landscapes in our country

You can't do this on other routes.

In addition, National Highway 219 passes through the Altai Mountains, Sawur Mountains,

Tianshan Mountains, Karakoram Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, Gangdise Mountains, Himalayas

and 8 other mountain ranges including Hengduan Mountains

These eight mountains account for 70% of my country's glaciers and ice reserves

67% of the area

Along a national highway, you can see the main glaciers in our country

Except for National Highway 219, you can't do it on other routes.

◎ Sapu Glacier in Nyainqentanglha Mountains

Around Sepugangri (Sap Sacred Mountain, 6,995 meters above sea level), the highest peak in the eastern section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, a vast area of ​​marine glaciers has developed, which is attracting more and more travelers to check in. The glacier is still some distance away from the main line of National Highway 219, and travelers need to leave the national highway and go to other branch roads. The Nyainqentanglha Mountains, the Himalayas, the Gangri Gabu Mountains in southeastern Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains are the main areas where marine glaciers are distributed in my country. Here, we can enjoy the spectacular picture of the front of the marine glacier penetrating into the primeval forest. Along National Highway 219, glaciers are combined with the surrounding snow-covered plateaus, alpine canyons, forest meadows, deserts and Gobi to form one of the most magnificent and majestic glacier landscape avenues in my country. (Photography/Nanka, from "National Geographic China" October 2021)

Glaciers are supported by snow-capped peaks

With its huge and crystal ice

It forms a magnificent and magical landscape

This new way of niche tourism

Beyond the leisurely pleasure of sightseeing

It further highlights the awe of human beings towards nature.

if you can

Start your journey now

Heading to the glacier!

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Intern Editor | Wu Hanyue

Source | National Geographic China