Konwakiton Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Konwakiton Glacier |
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 Konwakiton Glacier
Location in California
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Siskiyou County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°23′59″N 122°11′43″W / 41.39972°N 122.19528°W |
| Area | .1 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| Length | .4 mi (0.64 km) |
| Thickness | 63 ft (19 m) average |
| Terminus | Cliffs |
| Status | Expanding |
The Konwakiton Glacier is a large sheet of ice found on the southern side of Mount Shasta in California, USA. It sits at the very top of a big, bowl-shaped valley called a cirque. This cirque is on the south side of Shasta's Misery Hill cone. The glacier is located near a famous rock called Thumb Rock, at an elevation of about 11,500 feet (3,500 meters).
The Konwakiton Glacier is the fifth largest glacier on Mount Shasta. However, it is much smaller than the four biggest ones: the Whitney Glacier, Bolam Glacier, Hotlum Glacier, and Wintun Glacier. Even though it's smaller, the Konwakiton is the most visited glacier on Mount Shasta. This is because the main climbing path, called Avalanche Gulch, goes right along its western edge. Climbers often walk just a few feet from the bergschrund, which is a big crack where the glacier separates from the mountain.
How Glaciers Change Over Time
Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice. They can grow bigger or shrink depending on how much snow falls and how warm the temperatures are. Scientists study glaciers to understand how Earth's climate is changing.
Recent Growth of Mount Shasta's Glaciers
In 2002, scientists completed an important study of Mount Shasta's glaciers. This was the first detailed survey in 50 years. They discovered that seven of the glaciers had actually grown bigger between 1951 and 2002.
Which Glaciers Grew the Most?
The Hotlum Glacier and Wintun Glacier nearly doubled in size during this period. The Bolam Glacier grew by half its original size. The Whitney Glacier and the Konwakiton Glacier also expanded, each growing by about one-third. This growth shows that even though some glaciers around the world are shrinking, others can still expand due to local weather patterns and snowfall.
