Herbst Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herbst Glacier |
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Herbst Glacier is the snowy expanse at center right
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 Herbst Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°59′10″N 114°03′00″W / 48.98611°N 114.05000°W |
| Area | Approximately 13 acres (5.3 ha) in 2005 |
| Terminus | Moraine and talus |
| Status | Retreating |
Herbst Glacier is a glacier located in the Glacier National Park in the US state of Montana. A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves very slowly over land.
This glacier is found northeast of Mount Custer. It lies high above Lake Nooney. Its elevation is between 7,000 and 8,000 feet (about 2,100 to 2,400 meters) above sea level.
Where is Herbst Glacier?
Herbst Glacier is in Glacier National Park. This park is in Glacier County, Montana. The glacier is just east of the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is a line of mountains that separates rivers flowing to the Pacific Ocean from those flowing to the Atlantic Ocean.
How Big is Herbst Glacier?
In 2005, Herbst Glacier covered an area of about 13 acres. To give you an idea, one acre is about the size of a football field. So, 13 acres is like 13 football fields.
Many scientists say a glacier needs to be at least 25 acres to be considered an active glacier. This means Herbst Glacier is quite small. It does not meet that minimum size.
Why is Herbst Glacier Shrinking?
Herbst Glacier has been shrinking over time. Between 1966 and 2005, the glacier lost almost 70 percent of its size. This means it became much smaller.
The shrinking of glaciers like Herbst Glacier is a sign of climate change. As the Earth's temperature gets warmer, glaciers melt faster. This causes them to get smaller or even disappear.
