Price Glacier (Mount Shuksan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Price Glacier |
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Price Glacier seen below Shuksan's summit pyramid
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 Price Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 48°50′37″N 121°35′24″W / 48.84361°N 121.59000°W |
| Length | .75 mi (1.21 km) |
| Terminus | Barren rock/icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
Price Glacier is a large river of ice found in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows down the northeast side of a tall mountain called Mount Shuksan. This glacier starts high up, near a smaller peak known as Nooksack Tower.
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What is Price Glacier?
Price Glacier is a type of mountain glacier. It is made of snow that has fallen over many years and turned into thick ice. This ice slowly moves downhill because of gravity. The glacier stretches for about 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers).
Where is Price Glacier located?
You can find Price Glacier in the beautiful North Cascades National Park. This park is in Whatcom County, Washington, in the northwestern part of Washington state. The glacier is a key feature on the slopes of Mount Shuksan, a well-known mountain in the area.
What makes Price Glacier special?
Price Glacier is known for a few unique features:
- Steepness: It is one of the steepest glaciers on Mount Shuksan. This means it flows down a very sharp slope.
- Crevasses: The glacier is heavily crevassed. A crevasse is a deep crack or split in the ice. These cracks form when the glacier moves over uneven ground.
- Calving: The lowest parts of Price Glacier break off into Price Lake. When pieces of ice break off a glacier, it's called calving. These pieces then float in the lake as small icebergs.
How does a glacier "calve"?
Glaciers often end in a lake or ocean. When the ice reaches the water, it can become unstable. Large chunks of ice then break away from the main glacier. This process creates icebergs that float in the water. For Price Glacier, these small icebergs float in Price Lake.
Price Glacier starts at an elevation of about 8,600 feet (2,620 meters) and flows down to about 4,200 feet (1,280 meters). Like many glaciers around the world, Price Glacier is currently getting smaller, a process known as retreating.
