North Mowich Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Mowich Glacier |
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North Mowich Glacier, northwest slope of Mount Rainier
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Mount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 46°52′55″N 121°48′31″W / 46.88194°N 121.80861°W |
| Area | 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), 1983 |
The North Mowich Glacier is a large glacier found on the northwest side of Mount Rainier in Washington. A glacier is like a very slow-moving river made of ice. This glacier covers about 2.4 square miles (6.2 square kilometers). That's a lot of ice! It holds about 9.5 billion cubic feet (269 million cubic meters) of ice. Imagine a giant block of ice that big!
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About the North Mowich Glacier
The North Mowich Glacier starts high up on Mount Rainier. It begins at the bottom of a very steep part of the mountain called the Mowich Face. This is around 9,600 feet (2,926 meters) above sea level.
How the Glacier Flows
When it first starts, the glacier has two main parts, or "lobes," of ice. These two parts flow downhill towards the northwest. The southern part of the glacier is connected to another nearby glacier called the Edmunds Glacier.
As these two sections of ice move, they eventually join together. When they meet, they form a large, mostly flat area of ice. This flat part of the glacier is between 7,800 feet (2,377 meters) and 8,300 feet (2,530 meters) high.
Needle Rock and the Glacier's End
This large, flat ice area is mostly smooth. However, there is one rock that sticks out of the ice. It is called Needle Rock. It's like a small island in the middle of the ice.
The southern part of the glacier ends at about 6,400 feet (1,951 meters) in height. The northern part, which has more rocks mixed in, flows down a valley. This northern section ends at about 5,800 feet (1,768 meters) above sea level.
The Mowich River
The melting ice from the North Mowich Glacier helps create a river. This river is called the North Mowich River. It flows away from the glacier, carrying the melted ice water.
