Edmunds Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edmunds Glacier |
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 Edmunds Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 46°52′04″N 121°48′46″W / 46.86778°N 121.81278°W |
| Length | 1.20 mi (1.93 km) |
| Terminus | Icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
The Edmunds Glacier is a large river of ice found on Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is a huge volcano located in the state of Washington, in the USA. Glaciers like Edmunds Glacier are important because they store a lot of fresh water.
It was named in 1883 after George F. Edmunds. He was an important person from that time. The glacier sits on the western side of Mount Rainier. It is below two very steep, rocky areas called the Mowich Face and Sunset Face.
Where is Edmunds Glacier?
The Edmunds Glacier starts very high up on Mount Rainier. It begins at an elevation of about 9,900 feet (3,000 meters). This is almost two miles above sea level! From there, the glacier slowly flows downhill.
It moves towards the northwest. The glacier ends at a lower elevation of about 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). This end point is just northeast of a part of Mount Rainier known as Jeanette Heights.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is like a giant, slow-moving river made of ice. It forms when snow falls and builds up over many years. The snow gets packed down tightly and turns into ice. Gravity then makes this huge ice mass slowly slide downhill.
Glaciers can be found in very cold places. This includes high mountains or near the Earth's poles. They are a big part of the Earth's water cycle.
Water from the Glacier
As the Edmunds Glacier slowly melts, it creates water. This meltwater is very important for local rivers. The water from Edmunds Glacier flows into the Mowich River.
The Mowich River then joins with another river called the Puyallup River. This shows how glaciers help supply water to different areas. They are a natural source of fresh water.
