Gorodetsky Glacier

Gorodetsky Glacier is a mountain glacier in the Trans-Ili Alatau Range, composed of two distinct branches that spread across the landscape. The two arms descend from higher elevations and create a significant ice formation within this mountain range.

This glacier received its name in 1936, honoring Vladimir Dmitrievich Gorodetsky, a dendrologist and archaeologist who first documented the area in 1916. The naming came two decades after his original expedition through these mountains.

Scientists from the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR conducted extensive research at the glacier, contributing to the understanding of Central Asian glaciology.

Reaching this glacier requires mountaineering experience and good physical fitness due to the high altitude and rugged terrain involved. Visitors should plan for full gear requirements and consider hiring local guides for safe travel.

The two branches of the glacier have shown differing retreat patterns, with the left arm experiencing greater withdrawal between 1938 and 1961 than the right one. This difference illustrates how neighboring ice masses respond distinctly to environmental shifts.

GPS coordinates: 42.98330,77.05830

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47