Borealis Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borealis Glacier |
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Borealis Glacier on Primus Peak
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 Borealis Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Alpine glacier |
| Location | Skagit County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°35′34″N 121°05′40″W / 48.59278°N 121.09444°W |
| Length | .70 mi (1.13 km) |
| Terminus | Icefall and proglacial lake |
| Status | Retreating |
The Borealis Glacier is a fascinating ice river located in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. You can find it high up on the northern slopes of a mountain called Primus Peak.
What is Borealis Glacier?
Borealis Glacier is a type of glacier known as an alpine glacier. This means it forms in mountain valleys. It flows generally towards the northeast. The glacier stretches for about .70 mi (1.13 km), which is a little over one kilometer.
The Glacier's Journey Downhill
This glacier starts at a high elevation, around 7,200 ft (2,200 m) (about 2,195 meters). It then flows down to about 6,000 ft (1,800 m) (about 1,829 meters). The Borealis Glacier is actually split into two main parts: an upper section and a lower section.
Upper and Lower Sections
The upper part of the glacier is quite wide, reaching up to .90 mi (1.45 km) (about 1.45 kilometers) across. This section ends suddenly at an icefall. An icefall is like a frozen waterfall, where the ice flows over steep cliffs.
The lower part of the glacier has been shrinking a lot. Between 1990 and 2009, it lost nearly 250 m (820 ft) (about 820 feet) in length. This shrinking has created a special lake at the end of the glacier. This lake is called a proglacial lake, which means it forms right in front of a melting glacier.
