Darwin Glacier (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darwin Glacier |
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Type | Mountain glacier |
Location | Kings Canyon National Park, Fresno County, California, United States |
Coordinates | 37°10′18″N 118°40′19″W / 37.17167°N 118.67194°W |
Length | .15 mi (0.24 km) |
Terminus | Barren rock |
Status | Retreating |
The Darwin Glacier is a mountain glacier located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It sits on the north side of Mount Darwin. This glacier is found within Kings Canyon National Park.
Contents
What is the Darwin Glacier?
A glacier is a very large, slow-moving body of ice. The Darwin Glacier is a mountain glacier. This means it formed high up in the mountains. It is a part of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range in California.
Where is it located?
The Darwin Glacier is in Kings Canyon National Park. This park is famous for its deep valleys and tall mountains. The glacier is specifically on the north side of Mount Darwin. This mountain is a high peak in the Sierra Nevada.
How did it get its name?
The glacier got its name from Mount Darwin. The mountain itself was named after Charles Darwin, a famous scientist. Charles Darwin is well-known for his work on evolution and natural selection.
Is the glacier changing?
Like many glaciers around the world, the Darwin Glacier is getting smaller. A study in 2004 showed that it had lost half of its surface area since the year 1900. This means the ice covered much less land than it used to. Scientists continue to watch glaciers like Darwin to understand how they are changing.