Tahoma Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tahoma Glacier |
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Tahoma Glacier descends from the summit ice cap between St. Andrews Rock and Puyallup Cleaver (left) and Tahoma Cleaver (right).
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Mount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 46°50′23″N 121°48′33″W / 46.83972°N 121.80917°W |
| Area | 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), 1983 |
The Tahoma Glacier is a large river of ice found on the western side of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers). This glacier holds a massive amount of ice.
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What is the Tahoma Glacier?
The Tahoma Glacier is a long, flowing body of ice. It starts very high up on Mount Rainier, near the volcano's top. The glacier begins at an elevation of over 14,200 feet (4,300 meters).
How the Glacier Flows
As the Tahoma Glacier moves, it flows down the mountain. It goes west-southwest from the summit area. The ice then drops steeply over rocks. This creates an icefall, which is like a frozen waterfall. This icefall goes from about 13,200 feet (4,000 meters) down to 11,000 feet (3,400 meters).
At this point, the Tahoma Glacier connects to the South Mowich Glacier. This connection happens in an area called the Sunset Amphitheater.
Lower Sections of the Glacier
When the glacier drops below 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), it gets much wider. Here, it joins with a smaller glacier called the South Tahoma Glacier.
Further down, at over 8,000 feet (2,400 meters), the ice spreads out. Then, the Tahoma Glacier becomes narrower. It flows around a rocky area known as Glacier Island. This island is a smaller peak of Mount Rainier. It used to be completely surrounded by both the South Tahoma and Tahoma Glaciers.
Where the Glacier Ends
After passing Glacier Island, the Tahoma Glacier splits into two parts. The main part continues to flow west-southwest. This longer, northern arm ends at about 5,500 feet (1,700 meters).
The other part, the southern arm, flows south. It moves towards the South Tahoma Glacier. However, this arm stops before it can rejoin the South Tahoma Glacier. It ends at about 5,700 feet (1,700 meters). This stopping of glaciers is part of the retreat of glaciers.
Water from the Glacier
The melting ice from the Tahoma Glacier creates water. This meltwater forms the South Puyallup River. It also creates Tahoma Creek. Tahoma Creek is a stream that flows into the Nisqually River.
