Pinnacle Glacier (Mount Adams) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinnacle Glacier |
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Pinnacle Glacier in the large cirque on the right side of the mountain.
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 Pinnacle Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
Pinnacle Glacier
Location in the United States
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 46°12′25″N 121°31′43″W / 46.20694°N 121.52861°W |
| Area | 1.41 km2 (0.54 sq mi) in 2006 |
| Length | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
| Terminus | Talus |
| Status | Retreating |
Pinnacle Glacier is a cool ice river found on the west side of Mount Adams. Mount Adams is a huge volcano in Washington state, USA. This glacier is located in the beautiful Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It stretches from about 10,000 feet high down to around 7,200 feet.
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Discovering Pinnacle Glacier
Pinnacle Glacier is a fascinating natural feature. It is a large body of ice that moves slowly. This glacier helps us understand Earth's climate. It also shows us how mountains change over time.
Where is Pinnacle Glacier Located?
Pinnacle Glacier is found on the western slopes of Mount Adams. Mount Adams is a very tall volcano. It is known as a stratovolcano, which means it's built up from many layers of hardened lava and ash. This mountain is in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This forest is in Washington state, USA. The glacier is partly in Yakima County and partly in Skamania County.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is like a very slow-moving river of ice. It forms when snow piles up over many years. The snow gets compressed and turns into ice. Glaciers are important because they store a lot of fresh water. They also shape the land as they move.
How Pinnacle Glacier Changes Over Time
Like many glaciers around the world, Pinnacle Glacier is getting smaller. Between 1904 and 2006, it lost about 7 percent of its surface area. This means the glacier's ice melted faster than new snow could add to it. Scientists study glaciers like Pinnacle Glacier to learn about climate change. The melting of glaciers can affect water supplies and sea levels.
Naming the Glacier
Pinnacle Glacier got its name in 1901. It was named by Harry Fielding Reid. He was a scientist who studied glaciers. Reid surveyed the glaciers of Mount Adams with C. E. Rusk. They explored the area and gave names to many features.
