Glacier

I am very cold and sparkly. I have been here for a very, very long time. I live way up high on the tallest mountains, where the air is chilly and the clouds float by. I am made of bright white snow and cool blue ice. I look like a big, frozen river, but I move slower than a snail. I take sleepy, sleepy steps down the mountain. Can you guess what I am. I am a glacier. It is so nice to meet you.

My story began with tiny, fluffy snowflakes. For thousands and thousands of years, snowflakes have fallen down from the sky and landed gently on me. They piled up higher and higher, like a big stack of soft pillows. The snow at the very bottom got squished and squeezed until it turned into hard, sparkly ice. A long, long time ago, in the 1300s, the world got extra chilly. This was a time called the Little Ice Age, and it helped me grow big and strong. As I slide slowly down the mountain, I carry big rocks with me and carve out deep, wide valleys. I am a builder who shapes the world.

When the warm sun shines on me, I have a special gift to share. Some of my ice melts and turns into fresh, clean water. This water trickles and giggles down the mountain. It fills up the streams and rivers where little fish swim and thirsty animals come to drink. People love to visit me and see my beautiful blue ice sparkle in the sun. I am a very important part of our wonderful world. By keeping our planet healthy and cool, you help me stay strong. I am here to remind you how amazing our world is.