Schoolroom Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schoolroom Glacier |
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Schoolroom Glacier at right from Hurricane Pass. Below the glacier is a proglacial lake impounded by lateral and terminal moraines left behind by the retreat of the glacier
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 Schoolroom Glacier
Location in Wyoming
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| Type | Mountain/Hanging glacier |
| Coordinates | 43°43′33″N 110°50′56″W / 43.72583°N 110.84889°W |
| Area | 2 acres (0.0081 km2) |
| Length | 325 ft (100 m) |
| Terminus | Moraine/Talus slope |
| Status | Retreating |
Schoolroom Glacier is a small but very interesting glacier located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It's a great example of a glacier because it clearly shows many features that scientists study. This makes it almost like a "schoolroom" for learning about glaciers!
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What is Schoolroom Glacier?
A glacier is a huge, slow-moving river of ice. Schoolroom Glacier is a type called a mountain or hanging glacier. It sits high up in the Teton Range. This glacier is quite small, covering about 2 acres (0.008 square kilometers). It is also about 325 feet (99 meters) long.
Where is Schoolroom Glacier Located?
Schoolroom Glacier is found in Grand Teton National Park. It is in Teton County, Wyoming, in the USA. You can find it near the south Cascade Canyon trail. It sits at a high altitude of about 10,400 feet (3,170 meters). This is roughly 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the start of the trail at Jenny Lake.
Why is it Called "Schoolroom Glacier"?
This glacier got its name "Schoolroom" because it has so many classic glacier features. It's like a perfect textbook example! These features include:
- Moraines: These are piles of rocks and dirt left behind by the glacier. Schoolroom Glacier has clear terminal moraines (at its end) and lateral moraines (along its sides).
- Crevasses: These are deep cracks or splits in the ice of the glacier.
- Proglacial Lake: This is a lake formed by the melting water from the glacier. It is also called a tarn.
All these features make it an ideal place to study how glaciers work.
What's Happening to Schoolroom Glacier?
Like most glaciers around the world, Schoolroom Glacier has been getting smaller for many years. This process is called retreating. Scientists believe that if the weather keeps getting warmer, this glacier might completely disappear. It could be gone by the year 2030, or even sooner. This shows how climate change is affecting natural wonders like glaciers.
