Gem Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gem Glacier |
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Gem Glacier is the small snowy patch in the upper right, in the notch on the cliffs. The larger and better known Grinnell Glacier is below.
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 Gem Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Hanging glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°44′48″N 113°43′40″W / 48.74667°N 113.72778°W |
| Area | 5 acres (0.020 km2) in 2005 |
| Terminus | Cliffs |
| Status | Retreating |
Gem Glacier is the smallest named glacier found in Glacier National Park (U.S.). It is located in Glacier County, Montana, on the eastern side of the Continental Divide. This tiny glacier sits high up on a cliff face, just above the much larger and more famous Grinnell Glacier.
What is Gem Glacier?
Gem Glacier is a special type of glacier called a "hanging glacier." This means it hangs down from a steep mountain ridge, almost like a blanket draped over a cliff. It is attached to the north face of a sharp, narrow ridge called an arête, which is part of the Garden Wall.
Size and Status
Gem Glacier is very small, covering an area of only 5 acres (0.020 km2). Many scientists say that a glacier needs to be at least 25 acres (0.10 km2) to be considered "active," meaning it is still moving and shaping the land. Gem Glacier is much smaller than this.
Like many glaciers around the world, Gem Glacier is shrinking. Between 1966 and 2005, it lost about 30 percent of its size. During the same time, Grinnell Glacier, which is nearby, lost even more, about 40 percent of its area. This shrinking is a sign that the climate is getting warmer.
