Iceworms are a joke originated by gold rush poet  <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080923010945/http://www.robertwservice.com/">Robert Service</a> (see <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080923010945/http://ak.water.usgs.gov/glaciology/ballad_of_the_ice-worm_cocktail.htm">The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail</a>). <!-- glaciers --> Robert Service (see The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail). -- USGS Frequently Asked Questions">
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USGS Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Iceworms are a joke originated by gold rush poet  Robert Service (see The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail).

Answer:

They are real - they are annelid worms (class Oligochaeta); several species are recognized. Also, there are several insects and algae that live on the surfaces of glaciers.

Source of this FAQ:
http://ak.water.usgs.gov/glaciology/FAQ.htm

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