Carbon Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carbon Glacier |
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The accumulation zone of the Carbon Glacier is fed from avalanches off Willis Wall (behind).
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 Carbon Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 46°56′30″N 121°46′30″W / 46.94167°N 121.77500°W |
| Area | 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
| Length | 5.7 mi (9.2 km) |
| Thickness | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Terminus | Moraine |
| Status | Retreating |
The Carbon Glacier is a large river of ice located on the north side of Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is a huge volcano in the state of Washington, USA. This glacier is special because it's the lowest one in the main part of the United States. It's also the longest, thickest, and has the most ice of any U.S. glacier outside of Alaska. The Carbon River starts right from this glacier.
About the Carbon Glacier
The Carbon Glacier is a very important glacier. Its lowest point, called the "snout" or "terminus," is about 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) above sea level. This makes it the lowest-elevation glacier in the contiguous United States (the 48 states connected together).
This glacier is also known for its impressive size. It stretches for about 5.7 miles (9.2 kilometers). It is also very thick, reaching up to 700 feet (213 meters) deep in some places. Because of its length and thickness, it holds a huge amount of ice. It has the largest volume of ice of any U.S. glacier outside of Alaska.
Visiting the Carbon Glacier
You can visit the Carbon Glacier through the northwest entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. This entrance is called the Carbon River entrance. It is located just outside the town of Carbonado, Washington.
To reach the glacier, you need to hike about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the park entrance. However, some parts of the road and trail were damaged. This happened due to big floods in the Carbon River in 2006. So, always check park conditions before you plan your visit.
