Abyss Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abyss Lake |
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 Abyss Lake
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Southeastern Alaska |
| Coordinates | 58°30′31″N 136°36′55″W / 58.50861°N 136.61528°W |
| Primary inflows | Brady Glacier |
| Primary outflows | Dundas River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 883 ft (269 m) |
Abyss Lake is a fascinating lake located in the southeastern part of Alaska. It sits right next to the huge Brady Glacier. This lake gets its water from the melting ice of the glacier.
The water from Abyss Lake then flows into the Dundas River. From there, it travels through Dundas Bay and Cross Sound. Finally, it reaches the vast Pacific Ocean.
Discovering Abyss Lake
Abyss Lake is a special part of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This park is known for its amazing glaciers and wild nature. The lake's water is often held back by a natural wall of ice. This ice wall acts like a dam.
What Happens When the Ice Dam Breaks?
Sometimes, this natural ice dam breaks apart. When it does, a huge amount of water rushes out of the lake. This event is called a glacial lake outburst flood. It's like a sudden, powerful release of water.
During these floods, the water carries many things with it. Trees, large chunks of ice, and lots of mud and sand are swept into Dundas Bay. These floods can be very powerful.
Past Floods at Abyss Lake
Abyss Lake has experienced several of these outburst floods. They have happened in these years:
- 1994
- 1997
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2005
- September 2006
These events show how powerful nature can be. They are a reminder of the constant changes happening in glacial environments.
