Two Ocean Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Two Ocean Glacier |
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 Two Ocean Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°49′57″N 114°00′41″W / 48.83250°N 114.01139°W |
| Area | Approximately 67 acres (0.27 km2) in total including numerous ice patches |
| Length | .20 mi (0.32 km) |
| Terminus | Talus |
| Status | Retreating |
Two Ocean Glacier is a glacier found in Glacier National Park. This park is located in the state of Montana in the United States. A glacier is a very large, slow-moving river of ice.
What is Two Ocean Glacier?
Two Ocean Glacier is a special type of glacier called a mountain glacier. It sits high up in the mountains. This glacier is known for being on the west side of the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is like a big line that runs through North and South America. It separates which way water flows. On one side, water flows to the Pacific Ocean, and on the other, it flows to the Atlantic or Arctic Oceans.
Where is it Located?
This glacier is found below a mountain called Vulture Peak. It is very high up, at an average height of about 8,400 feet (2,600 m) above sea level. Imagine being on top of a very tall building – this glacier is even higher!
How Big is it and is it Changing?
In 2005, Two Ocean Glacier was not just one big piece of ice. Instead, it was made up of many smaller ice patches. All these patches together covered about 67 acres (0.27 km2). To give you an idea, that's like 50 football fields!
Sadly, this glacier is getting smaller. Scientists have been watching it closely. In 2005, it was more than 35 percent smaller than it was back in 1966. This means a big part of the ice has melted away over the years. When a glacier gets smaller, it is called "retreating." This is often a sign of a warming climate.
