Middle Cascade Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middle Cascade Glacier |
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Middle Cascade Glacier on Mount Formidable
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 Middle Cascade Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Skagit County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°25′11″N 121°03′16″W / 48.41972°N 121.05444°W |
| Length | 1.20 mi (1.93 km) |
| Terminus | Icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
The Middle Cascade Glacier is a cool natural ice formation found in the Wenatchee National Forest in the state of Washington, U.S. It sits north of Spider Mountain and east of Mount Formidable. This glacier is a big river of ice that slowly moves down a mountain.
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What is Middle Cascade Glacier?
Middle Cascade Glacier is a type of glacier called a mountain glacier. It is located in the beautiful North Cascades mountain range. Imagine a giant, slow-moving river made of ice! That's what a glacier is.
Where is it Located?
This glacier is in Skagit County, Washington. It's part of a huge forest area called the Wenatchee National Forest. You can find it by looking for Spider Mountain to its south and Mount Formidable to its west. Another smaller glacier, called Spider Glacier, is also nearby, just to the southeast.
What is an Icefall?
Middle Cascade Glacier has something special called an icefall. An icefall is like a frozen waterfall. It happens when the glacier flows over a very steep or broken part of the mountain. This makes the ice crack and break into many large blocks, creating a rough and jagged area. The icefall on Middle Cascade Glacier is getting thinner. Scientists think it might eventually split the glacier into two separate parts.
How is the Glacier Changing?
Like many glaciers around the world, Middle Cascade Glacier is getting smaller. This process is called retreating. It means the glacier's end, or "terminus," is moving back up the mountain.
Glacier Retreat: What Does it Mean?
Between 1979 and 2005, Middle Cascade Glacier retreated about 260 meters (which is about 853 feet). That's like moving back the length of almost three football fields! When glaciers retreat, it often shows that the climate is getting warmer. Scientists study these changes to understand more about our planet's health.
