Ice Cliff Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ice Cliff Glacier |
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 Ice Cliff Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Chelan County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°28′37″N 120°53′45″W / 47.47694°N 120.89583°W |
| Length | .20 mi (0.32 km) |
| Terminus | Barren rock/icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
The Ice Cliff Glacier is a cool glacier found in the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, U.S. It sits in a bowl-shaped hollow called a cirque (say "sirk") on the side of Mount Stuart. This glacier is part of the amazing views along the climbing paths up Mount Stuart, which is the second tallest non-volcano mountain in Washington.
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What is a Glacier?
A glacier is like a giant, slow-moving river of ice. It forms over many years as snow piles up and gets packed down. This packed snow turns into ice. Glaciers move very slowly, carving out valleys and shaping the land around them.
Where is Ice Cliff Glacier?
Ice Cliff Glacier is in the North Cascades mountain range. This area is known for its rugged peaks and beautiful forests. The glacier is located in Chelan County, Washington. It's a remote and wild place, perfect for exploring nature.
The Story of Ice Cliff Glacier
Ice Cliff Glacier is a "mountain glacier." This means it forms high up in the mountains. It's quite small, only about .20 mi (0.32 km) long.
Retreating Glacier
Right now, Ice Cliff Glacier is "retreating." This means it is shrinking and getting smaller. You can see signs of this retreat. About .40 mi (0.64 km) below where the glacier ends now, there's a big pile of rocks and dirt called a moraine. A moraine is like a natural bulldozer pushing rocks and soil as it moves. This moraine shows where the glacier used to reach a long time ago. Its presence tells us the glacier has melted back quite a bit.
Why Glaciers Retreat
Glaciers retreat when more ice melts away than new snow falls and turns into ice. This can happen because of warmer temperatures. Scientists study glaciers like Ice Cliff Glacier to understand how the Earth's climate is changing.
Exploring Mount Stuart
Mount Stuart is a very popular mountain for climbers. Ice Cliff Glacier is found along some of the routes that lead to the top. Climbing Mount Stuart is a big adventure, and the glacier is a cool landmark along the way.
