Arapaho Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arapaho Glacier |
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 Arapaho Glacier
Location in Colorado
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Boulder County, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°01′24″N 105°38′52″W / 40.02333°N 105.64778°W |
| Area | 39 acres (16 ha) |
| Length | .25 mi (0.40 km) long and .50 mi (0.80 km) wide |
| Thickness | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Terminus | Talus/proglacial lake |
| Status | Retreating |
Arapaho Glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice found high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, United States. It sits in a bowl-shaped hollow, called a cirque, just southeast of North Arapaho Peak. This impressive glacier is located within the Roosevelt National Forest.
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Discovering Arapaho Glacier
Arapaho Glacier is a special type of alpine glacier. This means it forms in high mountain areas. It is located just east of the Continental Divide of the Americas. This imaginary line runs through the Americas, separating river systems that flow to the Atlantic Ocean from those that flow to the Pacific Ocean.
Where is Arapaho Glacier?
You can find Arapaho Glacier in Boulder County, Colorado. It's part of the beautiful Roosevelt National Forest. The glacier is a key natural feature in this area.
Why Arapaho Glacier is Important
Arapaho Glacier is the largest glacier in the state of Colorado. It plays a very important role by providing water. The melting ice from the glacier helps supply water for the city of Boulder, Colorado. This makes it a vital natural resource for the region.
How Glaciers Change
Glaciers are not static; they are always moving and changing. They grow when more snow falls than melts, and they shrink when more ice melts than new snow accumulates.
What is Glacier Mass Balance?
Scientists study something called "glacier mass balance." This is like a glacier's bank account. If the glacier gains more ice and snow than it loses, it has a positive balance and grows. If it loses more than it gains, it has a negative balance and shrinks. Arapaho Glacier currently has a negative mass balance.
How Much Has Arapaho Glacier Shrunk?
Over the last 100 years, Arapaho Glacier has lost a lot of its size. It has shrunk by more than 52% of its surface area during the 20th Century. This shows how much the climate can affect these natural ice formations. Scientists continue to monitor the glacier's changes.
See also
In Spanish: Glaciar Arapaho para niños
