Where might a continental glacier typically be found?

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Prepare for the UCF GEO1200 Physical Geography Exam. Enhance your study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

A continental glacier is a massive ice sheet that covers a large area of a continent and flows outward from its center. These glaciers are typically found in regions where the climate is cold enough to allow for the accumulation of ice over long periods.

Antarctica is home to the largest continuous mass of ice on Earth, making it an ideal location for a continental glacier, which demonstrates that it satisfies the criteria for such glaciers. Similarly, Greenland is characterized by its substantial ice sheet that covers most of the island's surface.

While Alaska and Norway do have glacial formations, they are primarily characterized by smaller alpine glaciers rather than the expansive continental glaciers that define the larger ice sheets found in Greenland and Antarctica. Therefore, the presence of significant continental glaciers is most closely associated with Greenland in this context, as it features an extensive ice sheet although Antarctica is even more dominant in size. The choice of Greenland emphasizes its role as a key location for studying continental glacier dynamics and characteristics.