South Cascade Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Cascade Glacier |
|
|---|---|
South Cascade Glacier, October 2000. Note how far the glacier has retreated since the 1965 photo below.
|
|
 South Cascade Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
|
|
| Type | Alpine glacier |
| Location | North Cascades, Skagit County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 48°21′36″N 121°03′27″W / 48.36000°N 121.05750°W |
| Length | 1.3 mi (2.1 km) |
| Terminus | Talus/moraine |
| Status | Retreating |
The South Cascade Glacier is a large glacier found high up in the North Cascades mountains in Washington, USA. It is a special type called an alpine glacier, which means it forms in mountain valleys. Water melting from this glacier flows into South Cascade Lake. This lake then feeds into the South Fork Cascade River, which eventually joins the larger Skagit River.
Where is the South Cascade Glacier?
This glacier is located in the beautiful North Cascades mountain range. It sits about 17 miles (27 kilometers) north of a big mountain called Glacier Peak. To its east, you'll find Sentinel Peak, which stands tall at 8,261 feet (2,518 meters). The glacier is an important part of the natural landscape in this area.
Why is This Glacier Important to Study?
The South Cascade Glacier is very important to scientists who study glaciers. These scientists are called glaciologists. They watch this glacier closely to understand how Earth's climate affects glaciers. By studying it, they learn about changes happening to our planet.
Scientists have been keeping a close eye on the South Cascade Glacier for many years. From 1958 to 2009, the glacier lost almost half of its total size. This means it became much smaller. This change helps scientists understand how glaciers are shrinking due to changes in the climate.
