Sulphide Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sulphide Glacier |
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Sulphide Glacier (left) and Crystal Glacier (right)
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 Sulphide Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 48°48′47″N 121°36′23″W / 48.81306°N 121.60639°W |
| Length | 1.85 mi (2.98 km) |
| Terminus | Barren rock/icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
Sulphide Glacier is a large mass of ice found in the North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. It sits on the southern side of Mount Shuksan, a tall and famous mountain. This glacier is about 1.85 miles long and is connected to another glacier called Crystal Glacier, which is located to its east.
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Discovering Sulphide Glacier
Sulphide Glacier is a fascinating natural feature within a beautiful national park. It is a type of mountain glacier, meaning it forms in high mountain areas.
Where is Sulphide Glacier Located?
Sulphide Glacier is found in Whatcom County, Washington. It flows down the south slopes of Mount Shuksan. The glacier stretches from a high point of about 8,600 feet down to 5,600 feet above sea level. This means it covers a big change in elevation.
What Makes Sulphide Glacier Special?
Sulphide Glacier is known for a few interesting things. It was part of the path that climbers took when they first reached the top of Mount Shuksan in 1906. This shows how important glaciers can be for exploring mountains.
Both Sulphide and Crystal Glaciers feed into a series of impressive waterfalls. These waterfalls are between 300 and 1,000 feet tall and are known together as Sulphide Basin Falls. Below these cascades, you can find Sulphide Lake. Water from Sulphide Lake then flows over Sulphide Creek Falls. This is one of the highest waterfalls in North America, with a drop of nearly 2,200 feet!
The Glacier's Status
Like many glaciers around the world, Sulphide Glacier is currently retreating. This means it is getting smaller over time. Scientists study glaciers like Sulphide Glacier to understand more about climate and how our planet is changing.
