Glacier

A glacier is a large, long-lasting river of ice that is formed on land and moves in response to gravity and undergoes internal deformation. Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. Glaciers can be found on every continent, including on the greater Australian continent. Glaciers are more or less permanent bodies of ice and compacted snow that have become deep and heavy enough to flow under their own weight.

Geologic features created by glaciers include end, lateral, ground and medial moraines that form from glacially transported rocks and debris; U-shaped valleys and corries (cirques) at their heads, and the glacier fringe, which is the area where the glacier has recently melted into water.

The word glacier comes from the French language, glace meaning ice.