Appreciate them now before it’s too late.

It seems that every other day, a new study is released predicting the catastrophes that will result from a continuation of worldwide climate change. For most of us, these forecasted disasters seem lifetimes away. But one immediate effect of global warming that we can’t ignore, is the shrinking of the world’s glaciers and ice caps. In addition to causing an alarming rise in sea levels, the phenomenon is also destroying some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, such as the ones depicted in the photos below.

(above) Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica

Marmolada Glacier, Italy

Chenega Glacier, Alaska, USA

Potaniin Glacier, Mongolia

Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Portage Glacier, Alaska, USA

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Glaciers on Mt. Kenya, Kenya

Glaciers of Greenland

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Monte Rosa Glacier, Switzerland

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, USA

Victoria Glacier, Alberta, Canada

Pasterze Glacier, Austria

Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada

Karola Glacier, Tibet

Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

Grey Glacier, Chile

Concordia, Karakoram, Pakistan

Glaciers on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Northern Inulchek Glacier, Kyrgyzstan

Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, USA

Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland

Nigardsbreen Glacier, Norway

Himalayan Glacier, Southern China

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View more photo collections here.