Abbotsmith Glacier is a well-defined glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

, 3 miles (5 km) long, descending from the ice-covered west slopes of Big Ben

Big Ben (Heard Island)

Big Ben is a volcanic massif that dominates the geography of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It is a composite cone with a diameter of approximately 25 kilometres. Its highest peak is Mawson Peak, which is 2,745 m above sea level. Much of it is covered by ice, including 14...

 to the west side of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

. The glacier lies between Walsh

Walsh Bluff

Walsh Bluff is a rock bluff close north of the mouth of Abbotsmith Glacier on the west side of Heard Island. Surveyed by ANARE in 1948. Named by Antarctic Names Committee of Australia for J.E. Walsh, ANARE weather observer on Heard Island in 1950 and 1954; dog attendant at Heard Island in 1951....

 and Henderson Bluff

Henderson Bluff

Henderson Bluff is a rock bluff, 1,660 m, along the west side of Lexington Table 9 nautical miles north of Mount Lechner, in the Forrestal Range, Pensacola Mountains. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1956-66. Named by Advisory Committee on...

s. Surveyed in 1948 by the ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions

Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions

The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division .-The ANARE Name:...

) who named it for John Abbotsmith, engineer with the party.

To the south of Abbotsmith Glacier is Lied Glacier

Lied Glacier

Lied Glacier is a glacier close north of Cape Arkona on the southwest side of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. To the southeast of Lied Glacier is Gotley Glacier, whose terminus is located between Cape Arkona and Cape Labuan. Cape Arkona separates Lied Glacier from Gotley Glacier...

, while Allison Glacier is immediately to the north.