Our lovely planet earth has enormous features which are probably so unique as compare to other planets of the solar system. In colder regions of the earth many huge ice masses are lying with their mute eminence and majesty. These massive glacial structures are known as Glaciers which are actually ice bodies existing for centuries. Most of these Glaciers are found in Antarctic regions but there are also many glaciers in the high rise mountain zones of the earth. Glaciers are the purest fresh water reserves on earth and they are also the source of many rivers, lakes and other water bodies. Glaciers are ultimately equally helpful for animals, humans and for the whole of biodiversity. Following are some of the lovely glaciers of the lovely planet earth ;

1 – Margerie Glacier, Glacier Bay Alaska

Margerie Glacier, Glacier Bay Alaska ( Thijs Friederich's Image )

2-  Potage Glacier of Alaska

Potage Glacier of Alaska : Thaddeus Roan's Image

3- Hubbard Glacier of Canada

Hubbard Glacier ( Canada ) : Image by markrees

4- Jostedalsbreen Glacier of Western Norway

Jostedalsbreen Glacier of Western Norway ( Image: Vincent N. B. )

5-  Harker Glacier, South Georgia Island

Harker Glacier is a tidewater glacier on South Georgia Island ( Image: Miriam Iorwerth )

6- Biarchedi Glacier in Northern Pakistan

Biarchedi Glacier in Northern Pakistan ( Michael Mellinger's Image )

7- Rupal Glacier: Rupal Valley, Pakistan

Rupal Glacier Pakistan ( Johan Assarsson's Image ) Rupal Valley

8- Miar Gacier, Pakistan ( Northern Areas )

Miar Gacier Pakistan ( Northern Areas ) Rizwan Quraishi Image

9- Imja Glacier of Nepal

Imja Glacier of Nepal ( Gavin Dixon Image )

10- Khumbu Glacier of Nepal

The famous Khumbu Glacier of Nepal

11- Pindari Glacier in Utterkhand, India

Pindari Glacier in Utterkhand India ( Image: Baok )

12- Zemu Glacier: Sikkim ( INDIA )

Zemu Glacier in Sikkim India

13- Vatnajökull ( The largest glacier of Iceland )

Vatnajökull ( The largest glacier of Iceland ) George Grossman's Image

14- Furtwängler Glacier of Tanzania ( Africa )

Furtwängler Glacier of Tanzania (Africa) BY ALASDAIR WILKINS

15- Amundsen Glacier of Antarctica

Amundsen Glacier of Antarctica ( A youth007 Image )

16- Scott Glacier of Antarctica

Scott Glacier of Antarctica ( Charles Lovely's Image )

17- Reedy Glacier in West Antarctica

Reedy Glacier in West Antarctica ( A Gordon Bromley Image )

18- The Romanche Glacier, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

The Romanche Glacier, Tierra del Fuego, Chile ( Yvon Maurice's Image )

19- Moreno Glacier, Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina

Moreno Glacier, Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina, ( Image by Jimbo )

20- Franz Joseph Glacier, NewZealand

Franz Joseph Glacier NewZealand ( Image: Carol )

Aspen: A Facts sheet

Quaking Aspen, Mount Moran, Grand Tetons, Wyoming

Quaking Aspen (Facts – 1): Botanically this tree is known as Populus tremuloides and usually it is referred as Aspen.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-2): Some people also call it as “quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, Quakies, mountain or golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, popple.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-3): The forests of this phenomenal tree are widespread in the high plateaus and mountain ranges of North America from the northeastern coastal regions till Alaska.

Quaking Aspens are also known as Golden Aspens

Quaking Aspen (Facts-4): Some of the collections of these trees are also found in the rocky mountain regions of the central Mexico.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-5): A tall, fast growing tree, usually 20–25 meters (66–82 ft) at maturity, with a trunk 20–80 centimeters (7.9–31 in) in diameter; records are 36.5 meters (120 ft) in height and 1.37 meters (4.5 ft) in diameter.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-6): The leaves on mature trees are nearly round, 4–8 centimeters (1.6–3.1 in) in diameter with small rounded teeth, and a 3–7 centimeters (1.2–2.8 in) long, flattened petiole. Young trees (including root sprouts) have much larger—10–20 centimeters (3.9–7.9 in) long—nearly triangular leaves.

Glittering Aspen Leaves are real gold !

Quaking Aspen (Facts-7): The flowers are catkins 4–6 centimeters (1.6–2.4 in) long, produced in early spring before the leaves while the fruit is a 10-centimetre (3.9 in) long pendulous string of 6-millimetre (0.24 in) capsules.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-8): The most distinguished fact of this tree it’s the color changing nature of its clones especially in the times of leafing and falls.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-9): Aspen bark contains a substance that was extracted by Native Americans and the pioneers of the American West as a quinine substitute. On the other hand, the leaves are a great source for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera.

Quaking Aspen (Facts-10): Aspen stands are in decline on the Colorado Plateau. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that between 1962 and 1986, aspen stands have declined by 46% in Arizona and New Mexico.

Maroon Bells at Sunrise with Aspen beauty -Colorado

A Fantastic video capture of Quaking Aspen and Rocky Mountains

Kestrels are the smaller members of the falcon genus which are known for their orthodox hunting attitude. They are normally recognized due to their brown feathers and scientifically they belong to the order “Falconiformes” and the class “Aves”. Different species of kestrels are found in various parts of the world but the only kestrel found in North America is known as “American Kestrel“. American Kestrel is also named as the Sparrow Hawk and it ranges from Alaska to North Canada and then the eastern coastal zones of the US , Central America till Mexico. Their natural habitats include vast grasslands , agricultural farms , meadows , towns , parks and large plains.

The Pair of American Kestrel. Photo : Greg Peterson

American kestrel is an amazing bird due to their wonderful colors and amazing hovering flight. Like other kestrels the American kestrels also don’t make their own nests but they tend to live in other birdhouses. The male American kestrel has blue and grey wings with black and white spots. It has brownish red belly with black and white stains. The average length of the male is 7-8 inches with the 50-60cm wingspan. The female American kestrel is slightly larger with dark brown back and wings. The undersides of the wings are creamy. The important distinction between the male and female American kestrel is the tail as the males have brownish red tail with white tip. The females have also dark brown tail but they have also dark black bars. The American kestrel normally preys lizards, small mammals, small birds, bats and rodents. The vocalization of American kestrel includes “ki-ki-ki” or “klee-klee”. Before diving on its prey the American kestrel flutters its wings in a rapid speed. In the breeding season the female American kestrel lays 4-7 eggs and the pair incubates the eggs for one month.

Although American kestrel, the sparrow hawk falls under the least concern category as they are found in abundance in America. Yet their population is under the threat of decline due to the deforestation of Longleaf Pines from the agricultural lands and grassy zones.