Suiattle Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suiattle Glacier |
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 Suiattle Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 48°04′18″N 121°05′46″W / 48.07167°N 121.09611°W |
| Length | 1.25 mi (2.01 km) |
| Terminus | Icefall/Barren Rock |
| Status | Retreating |
The Suiattle Glacier is a large ice mass located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is found within the beautiful Glacier Peak Wilderness area. This glacier is also part of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Suiattle Glacier is very close to other glaciers. These include the Honeycomb Glacier and the White River Glacier. A sharp, rocky ridge separates them at the top of the mountains.
How Glaciers Change
Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice. They can grow or shrink over time. When a glacier "retreats," it means it is shrinking. This happens when more ice melts than is replaced by new snowfall.
The Suiattle Glacier has been shrinking a lot. This process started after a period called the "Little Ice Age." This was a time when many glaciers around the world grew larger.
Suiattle Glacier's Retreat
From about 1850 to 1924, the Suiattle Glacier lost a lot of its length. It shrank by about 1,400 meters (or 4,600 feet). Then, between 1924 and 1940, it retreated even more. It lost another 900 meters (about 3,000 feet) of its ice.
However, there was a short time when the glacier grew a little. Between 1967 and 1979, the weather was cooler and wetter. During this period, the Suiattle Glacier advanced by about 20 meters (66 feet). This means it grew slightly.
But after that, the shrinking continued. From 1979 to 2005, the glacier retreated again. It moved 178 meters (584 feet) further up the mountain. This shows that the Suiattle Glacier is mostly shrinking over time.
