Lyman Glacier (North Cascades) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lyman Glacier |
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 Lyman Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Chelan County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°10′13″N 120°53′48″W / 48.17028°N 120.89667°W |
| Length | .25 mi (0.40 km) |
| Terminus | Proglacial lake |
| Status | Retreating |
Lyman Glacier is a large mass of ice found in the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, U.S. It is located near Chiwawa Mountain. Glaciers are like very slow-moving rivers of ice that form over many years from packed snow.
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What is Lyman Glacier?
Lyman Glacier is a mountain glacier. This means it forms high up in the mountains. It's an important part of the natural landscape in the North Cascades region.
Where is Lyman Glacier Located?
This glacier is found in Chelan County, Washington, within the Wenatchee National Forest. This area is known for its beautiful mountains and forests.
Why is Lyman Glacier Shrinking?
Lyman Glacier has been getting smaller over time. Between 1890 and 2008, the glacier melted back about 1,310 meters (which is about 0.8 miles). It also lost a lot of its size, shrinking by 86 percent. Its surface area went from 1.41 square kilometers (about 0.54 square miles) down to just 0.02 square kilometers (about 0.007 square miles). This shrinking is often called "retreating."
What are Proglacial Lakes and Moraines?
As Lyman Glacier melts, it forms a proglacial lake. This is a lake that forms right in front of a melting glacier. There are also smaller lakes nearby.
The glacier has also left behind a clear "terminal moraine." A moraine is a pile of rocks and dirt that a glacier pushes or carries along as it moves. A terminal moraine shows the furthest point a glacier reached before it started to melt back. These features help scientists understand how much the glacier has shrunk over many years.
