penitentes
pen-ih-TEN-tays
Tall, thin blades of hardened snow or ice that form in clusters at high altitude, pointing toward the midday sun. They can range from a few centimeters to several meters tall and make travel across snowfields extremely difficult.
Etymology
Spanish, meaning "penitents" — the formations resemble a procession of kneeling, hooded figures. First described by Darwin in the Andes in 1839.
Notes
Also found on the surface of Pluto.
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