Susitna Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Susitna Glacier |
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False-colour image of Susitna Glacier.
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 Susitna Glacier
Location in Alaska
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| Type | Valley glacier |
| Location | Alaska Range, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 63°35′N 146°45′W / 63.583°N 146.750°W |
| Terminus | Susitna River |
Susitna Glacier is a large glacier found in the Alaska Range mountains. It is a type of "valley glacier," which means it flows down a valley like a very slow river of ice. This amazing glacier is located in Alaska, a state known for its vast icy landscapes.
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About Susitna Glacier
Susitna Glacier is a long, thick body of ice that moves slowly over land. It is fed by snow and ice that build up in the mountains. As more snow falls and turns into ice, the glacier gets heavier and starts to slide downhill. This movement shapes the land around it, creating valleys and other cool features.
Where is Susitna Glacier?
This glacier is located in the Alaska Range, a major mountain chain in Alaska. It's a very cold and snowy area, which is perfect for glaciers to form and grow. The glacier eventually melts and feeds into the Susitna River.
Earthquakes and the Glacier
Susitna Glacier flows over an area that has a lot of earthquake activity. This means the ground underneath it moves and shakes quite often.
- The 2002 Denali Earthquake: In November 2002, a very strong earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, hit this region. This earthquake was very powerful.
- Glacier's Role: Scientists discovered that this earthquake actually started on a fault line (a crack in the Earth's crust) that was previously unknown, right under Susitna Glacier. The movement of this fault caused the earthquake. This shows how powerful natural forces can be and how they can affect even huge glaciers.
Interesting Facts About Glaciers
- Glaciers are the largest freshwater reserves on Earth.
- They can be many miles long and thousands of feet thick.
- Glaciers move very slowly, sometimes only a few inches a day.
- They carve out valleys and create lakes as they move.
