Chickamin Glacier (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chickamin Glacier |
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Chickamin Glacier as it looked in 1965
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 Chickamin Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Alpine glacier |
| Location | Chelan County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°18′39″N 121°01′09″W / 48.31083°N 121.01917°W |
| Length | 1.60 mi (2.57 km) |
| Terminus | Icefall/Barren rock |
| Status | Retreating |
The Chickamin Glacier is a large river of ice found in the North Cascades mountains. It is located in the U.S. state of Washington. Glaciers are like very slow-moving rivers made of ice. They form when snow piles up over many years and turns into thick ice.
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What is Chickamin Glacier?
Chickamin Glacier is an alpine glacier. This means it forms high up in the mountains. It is a long, narrow body of ice. The glacier is about 1.60 mi (2.57 km) long. It moves very slowly down the mountain.
Where is Chickamin Glacier Located?
This glacier is in the Wenatchee National Forest. This is a large protected area in Washington state. The Chickamin Glacier flows north from two tall mountains. These mountains are called Dome Peak and Sinister Peak. The glacier starts very high up, at about 8,600 ft (2,600 m). It then flows down to about 5,600 ft (1,700 m).
How Does Chickamin Glacier Move?
The Chickamin Glacier is separated from other glaciers nearby. To the south, it is separated from Dome Glacier. To the west, it is separated from Dana Glacier. These separations are made by sharp, rocky ridges. These ridges are called arêtes. An arête is like a knife-edge ridge. It forms when two glaciers erode opposite sides of a mountain.
Is Chickamin Glacier Shrinking?
Yes, the Chickamin Glacier is getting smaller. This is called "retreating." The glacier's narrow end, or "tongue," is about 2-mile (3.2 km) wide. It shrank by 800 ft (240 m) in just eight years. This happened between 1998 and 2006. Many glaciers around the world are retreating. This is often due to warmer temperatures.
