Kintla Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kintla Glacier |
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 Kintla Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°55′44″N 114°11′55″W / 48.92889°N 114.19861°W |
| Area | Approximately 280 acres (1.1 km2) in 2005 |
| Length | .35 mi (0.56 km) |
| Terminus | Moraine and talus |
| Status | Retreating |
Kintla Glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice located in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It sits high up on a mountain plateau, about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Kintla Peak. This amazing glacier is found at an elevation between 8,700 feet (2,700 m) and 7,700 feet (2,300 m) above sea level.
Kintla Glacier is actually made up of two connected parts. Together, they covered an area of about 280 acres (110 ha) in 2005. This might sound big, but it's actually 34 percent smaller than it was in 1966. Glaciers like Kintla are known for having many deep cracks in their ice, which are called crevasses.
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What is a Glacier?
A glacier is a huge body of ice that forms over many years. It starts when snow falls and doesn't melt completely in the summer. Over time, more snow piles up, and the weight of the new snow squeezes the old snow. This pressure turns the snow into solid ice.
Glaciers are often called "rivers of ice" because they slowly flow downhill. They move because of gravity and the pressure of their own massive weight. This movement can carve out valleys and shape mountains over thousands of years.
Types of Glaciers
There are different kinds of glaciers around the world. Kintla Glacier is a "mountain glacier." These glaciers form in high mountain ranges. They usually flow down valleys, like slow-motion icy rivers.
Another type is a "continental glacier" or "ice sheet." These are much larger and cover vast areas of land. You can find them in places like Antarctica and Greenland.
Kintla Glacier's Location
Kintla Glacier is a key feature of Glacier National Park. This park is famous for its beautiful mountains, clear lakes, and, of course, its glaciers. The park is located in the state of Montana, close to the Canadian border.
The glacier is specifically found in Flathead County, Montana. Its high elevation means it's in a very cold environment. This helps the ice stay frozen for most of the year.
Why Glaciers are Important
Glaciers are very important for several reasons. They store a lot of the world's fresh water. When glaciers melt slowly, they provide water for rivers and streams. This water is used by people for drinking, farming, and generating electricity.
Glaciers also help us understand Earth's climate history. Scientists study ice cores from glaciers. These cores contain trapped air bubbles and dust from thousands of years ago. They give clues about past temperatures and atmospheric conditions.
Retreating Glaciers
Kintla Glacier, like many others around the world, is "retreating." This means it is getting smaller. The amount of ice melting each year is more than the amount of new snow and ice forming. The 34 percent decrease in Kintla Glacier's size since 1966 is a significant change.
When glaciers retreat, it can affect local ecosystems. It can also impact water supplies for communities that rely on glacial meltwater. Scientists are studying these changes to understand their long-term effects on our planet.
Images for kids
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Kintla Glacier in 1901 compared to 2019
