Mendenhall Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mendenhall Lake |
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The lake, mostly frozen over, and the Mendenhall Glacier
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 Mendenhall Lake
Location in Alaska
Mendenhall Lake
Location in North America
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| Location | Juneau, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 58°25′24″N 134°34′10″W / 58.42333°N 134.56944°W |
| Primary inflows | Mendenhall Glacier, Steep Creek, Nugget Creek |
| Primary outflows | Mendenhall River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. width | 1.8 miles (2.9 km) |
| Surface elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
Mendenhall Lake is a beautiful lake located in the Mendenhall Valley near Juneau, Alaska. It's a special type of lake called a proglacial lake, which means it was formed by a melting glacier. The lake is about 3 miles (5 km) north of the Juneau Airport.
Mendenhall Lake is the starting point for the short Mendenhall River. This lake and the glacier it comes from are part of the Tongass National Forest. This area is known as the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a popular spot for visitors.
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What is a Proglacial Lake?
A proglacial lake forms right at the front of a melting glacier. As the glacier slowly melts, its water collects in a basin or hollow area. This creates a lake that is fed directly by the glacier's meltwater. Mendenhall Lake is a great example of this process.
How Mendenhall Lake Was Formed
Mendenhall Lake was created as the Mendenhall Glacier began to shrink back. In 1962, the glacier's end, called its terminus, was right where the lake is now. Over time, the melting ice filled the space, forming the lake we see today. The lake gets its water from the Mendenhall Glacier, along with other streams like Steep Creek and Nugget Creek.
The Mendenhall River
The water from Mendenhall Lake flows out to form the Mendenhall River. This river is not very long, but it carries the glacier's meltwater away from the lake. The river is an important part of the local ecosystem.
Name of the Lake
Mendenhall Lake, like the glacier and valley, is named after a famous scientist. His name was Thomas Corwin Mendenhall. He was a physicist, which is a scientist who studies how things work in the natural world, like energy and matter. He was also a meteorologist, someone who studies weather and the atmosphere.
Before it was officially named Mendenhall Lake, local miners called it McCush Lake in 1909. They named it after Neil McCush, who owned mining land nearby. However, the United States Geological Survey officially published the name Mendenhall Lake in 1962, linking it to the famous glacier.
Visiting Mendenhall Lake
Mendenhall Lake is part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. This area is a wonderful place to visit. People can enjoy views of the lake, the glacier, and the beautiful Nugget Falls. There are trails for hiking and places to learn about the local nature. It's a great spot to see Alaska's amazing landscapes.
