Rusk Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rusk Glacier |
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 Rusk Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
Rusk Glacier
Location in the United States
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 46°12′17″N 121°28′04″W / 46.20472°N 121.46778°W |
| Area | 1.47 km2 (0.57 sq mi) in 2006 |
| Length | 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| Terminus | Talus |
| Status | Retreating |
The Rusk Glacier is a large body of ice found on the eastern side of Mount Adams. This mountain is located in the state of Washington in the USA. A glacier is like a very slow-moving river of ice, formed over many years from packed snow.
About Rusk Glacier
Rusk Glacier starts very high up on Mount Adams, at an elevation of over 10,200 ft (3,100 m). This is just below a rocky peak called The Castle. From there, the glacier slowly moves downhill towards the east.
Much of the glacier's surface is covered with rocks and dirt. This debris helps protect the ice underneath from melting too quickly. In the middle of the glacier, at about 9,200 ft (2,800 m), there is a small area of rock that is not covered by ice. This is like a tiny island in the middle of the ice.
The glacier ends at about 7,500 ft (2,300 m). Its end point is a pile of rocks and debris called a moraine. Moraines are formed when glaciers push and carry rocks and soil as they move.
How Rusk Glacier is Changing
Like many glaciers around the world, Rusk Glacier is getting smaller. Scientists have observed that its surface area has shrunk by 23 percent between 1904 and 2006. This means the glacier is "retreating," or melting faster than new snow can build it up.
Who Named Rusk Glacier?
The Rusk Glacier was named after a person named Claude Ewing Rusk. He was an explorer who was the first to climb The Castle peak in 1921. The glacier was named in his honor by Harry Fielding Reid, who was a well-known glaciologist. A glaciologist is a scientist who studies glaciers.
