Traleika Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Traleika Glacier |
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| Type | Valley glacier |
| Location | Denali Borough, Alaska, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 63°10′52″N 151°00′09″W / 63.18111°N 151.00250°W |
The Traleika Glacier is a huge river of ice located in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a state in the U.S.. It's a special part of the amazing landscape around Denali, North America's tallest mountain. Glaciers are like very slow-moving rivers made of ice, formed over many years from packed snow.
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What is Traleika Glacier?
The Traleika Glacier is a type of glacier called a valley glacier. This means it flows through a valley, much like a river. It's found on the eastern side of Denali, which is also known as Mount McKinley. This glacier is a key feature of the park, showing how powerful and beautiful nature can be.
Where Does This Glacier Begin?
The Traleika Glacier actually starts from two different places, like two streams joining to form a bigger river.
The West Fork's Journey
One part, called the west fork, begins in an area known as the Thayer Basin. This basin is south of Denali. From there, this part of the glacier moves northeast. It then dramatically drops from a height of about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) through something called the Traleika Icefall. An icefall is like a frozen waterfall, where the glacier flows over a steep slope, creating many cracks and towering ice blocks. This west fork then flows between Karsten Ridge and a peak called Farthing Horn.
The Main Fork's Path
The other main part of the glacier starts from the east side of Denali, in a spot called Traleika Col. A "col" is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks. This main fork then joins up with the west fork. This meeting point is also between Farthing Horn and another mountain, Mount Silverthrone. After they join, the combined glacier continues to move northeast. Eventually, it connects with the much larger Muldrow Glacier.
How Did Traleika Glacier Get Its Name?
The Traleika Glacier was given its name in 1945 by a famous explorer and photographer named Bradford Washburn. He named it after a word from the Denaʼina language, which is spoken by the native Denaʼina people of Alaska. The name "Traleika" is an English version of the Denaʼina word "Dghelaay Ka'a." This word means "great one" or "high one." It was originally used to refer to Denali itself, showing how important and grand this mountain and its glaciers are to the local people.
