Aialik Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aialik Glacier |
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Aialik Glacier Panorama
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| Type | Tidewater glacier |
| Location | Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 59°58′05″N 149°47′59″W / 59.96806°N 149.79972°W |
| Terminus | Aialik Bay |
The Aialik Glacier is a huge river of ice found in Alaska. It is located in the Kenai Peninsula region. This impressive glacier flows right into Aialik Bay, which is part of the ocean.
Aialik Glacier is a major feature of Kenai Fjords National Park. It is one of many glaciers that get their ice from the massive Harding Icefield. The glacier is about 15 miles from the city of Seward. It is the largest glacier you can find in Aialik Bay.
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What is a Glacier?
A glacier is a very large, slow-moving mass of ice. It forms over many years from layers of snow that get compressed. Imagine snow piling up year after year. The weight of the new snow turns the old snow into ice. Glaciers move very slowly, like a frozen river. They can carve out valleys and shape the land.
A Tidewater Glacier
The Aialik Glacier is known as a tidewater glacier. This means it flows directly into the sea. When a glacier reaches the ocean, huge chunks of ice can break off. This process is called "calving."
Glacier Calving Explained
Calving is when pieces of ice break away from the front of a glacier. These pieces fall into the water, creating icebergs. For Aialik Glacier, this happens most often in May and June. It's a natural process that helps shape the glacier. Calving can be very dramatic to watch. Large ice chunks crash into the bay.
Part of Kenai Fjords National Park
The Aialik Glacier is a highlight of Kenai Fjords National Park. This park protects a beautiful area of Alaska. It has fjords, which are long, narrow inlets of the sea. These fjords were carved by glaciers long ago. The park is home to many glaciers and a lot of wildlife. Visitors can often see sea otters, seals, and whales.
The Harding Icefield Connection
The Aialik Glacier gets its ice from the Harding Icefield. This is a huge sheet of ice that covers a large part of the Kenai Mountains. It is one of the largest icefields in the United States. Many glaciers, including Aialik, flow out from this vast icefield. The icefield acts like a giant frozen reservoir.
See also
In Spanish: Glaciar de Aialik para niños
