Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier: Record Melting Observed | NASA Earth Science

Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier: Record Melting Observed | NASA Earth Science

Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier retreated at a record-setting pace. Between January 2022 and March 2023, the glacier lost about 15 miles (25 km) in length, including a 2-month period when grounded ice retreated more than 5 miles (8 km)—the highest rate observed in modern history.

Hektoria Glacier (65°3′S 61°31′W) is a glacier flowing south from the area around Mount Johnston between Mount Quandary and Zagreus Ridge into Vaughan Inlet next west of Brenitsa Glacier and east of Green Glacier, on the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The name "Hektoria Fiords" was given by Sir Hubert Wilkins during his flight of December 20, 1928, after the SS Hektoria that brought him to Deception Island. Following survey by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1947, the feature could not be identified; however, during further survey by FIDS in 1955, Wilkins' "long ice-filled fiords" were found to be this glacier and two short unnamed ones.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Release Date: May 7, 2026

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