Ruth Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruth Glacier |
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Ruth Glacier
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| Type | Valley glacier |
| Location | Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 62°45′55″N 150°37′42″W / 62.76528°N 150.62833°W |
| Length | 40 miles (64 km) |
| Thickness | 3,800 feet (1,200 m) (1983) |
| Terminus | moraine |
| Status | unknown |
Ruth Glacier is a massive river of ice found in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, U.S.. It is one of the most impressive natural features in the park. This giant glacier is known for its incredible size and the stunning mountains that surround it.
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Ruth Glacier: A River of Ice
A glacier is like a very slow-moving river made of ice. Ruth Glacier is a type called a valley glacier. This means it flows through a valley, much like a river of water.
Where is Ruth Glacier?
Ruth Glacier is located in the beautiful state of Alaska. Its highest parts are about three miles below the very top of Denali. Denali is the tallest mountain in North America.
How Big is Ruth Glacier?
This glacier is truly enormous! It is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) long. Imagine a river of ice that stretches for such a long distance. In 1983, scientists measured its thickness. They found it was an amazing 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) deep. That's almost as tall as a skyscraper!
The Great Gorge
One of the most famous parts of Ruth Glacier is its "Great Gorge." This gorge is a deep, narrow valley carved by the ice. It is about one mile wide. The glacier drops almost 2,000 feet (610 meters) over 10 miles within this gorge.
As the ice moves, it creates deep cracks on its surface. These cracks are called crevasses. They can be found all along the glacier's surface.
Towering Cliffs
On both sides of the Great Gorge, there are huge granite cliffs. These cliffs rise 4,900 feet (1,494 meters) above the ice. If you measure from the top of these cliffs to the bottom of the glacier, the total height is even greater than the depth of the Grand Canyon. This shows just how massive Ruth Glacier and its surroundings are.
How Fast Does it Move?
Ruth Glacier is always moving, though very slowly. It moves at a rate of about three feet (one meter) per day. This constant movement helps to shape the landscape around it.
Mountains Around the Glacier
Many tall mountains of the Alaska Range surround the Ruth Gorge. These mountains are very famous among climbers. Some of them include Mooses Tooth, Mount Dickey, Mount Bradley, Mount Wake, Mount Johnson, and London Tower.
These mountains offer challenging climbs. People come from all over the world to try ice climbing and rock climbing on their steep faces.
How Ruth Glacier Got Its Name
In 1903, a doctor and explorer named Frederick Cook explored this amazing glacier. He decided to name it after his youngest daughter, Ruth. That's how this incredible natural wonder got its name.
