Van Trump Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Van Trump Glacier |
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|---|---|
| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Mount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 46°49′05″N 121°45′41″W / 46.81806°N 121.76139°W |
| Area | 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), 1983 |
The Van Trump Glacier is not just one big ice mass. It's actually a group of smaller glaciers and snowfields. You can find them on the southern side of Mount Rainier in Washington. This glacier system is named after P. B. Van Trump. He was one of the first people to climb Mount Rainier a long time ago.
This area of ice covers about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2). That's like 128 football fields! It holds a huge amount of ice, about 500 million cubic feet (14 million cubic meters). The Van Trump Glacier sits between two other glaciers. To its east is the Wilson Glacier. To its west is the Kautz Glacier. The ice here ranges in height from about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) up to 9,800 ft (3,000 m). When the ice melts, the water flows into the Nisqually River.
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What is the Van Trump Glacier?
The Van Trump Glacier is a collection of ice and snow. It's not a single, large glacier. Instead, it's made up of several smaller ice patches. These patches are found high up on the slopes of Mount Rainier. They are important parts of the mountain's icy landscape.
Where is the Van Trump Glacier located?
This group of glaciers is on the southern side of Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is a very tall volcano in Washington, USA. The Van Trump Glacier is nestled between other famous glaciers. These include the Wilson Glacier and the Kautz Glacier.
How big is the Van Trump Glacier?
The Van Trump Glacier covers an area of about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2). This might seem small compared to some huge glaciers. However, it still holds a lot of ice. It contains about 500 million cubic feet of ice. That's enough ice to fill many, many Olympic-sized swimming pools!
How high up is the Van Trump Glacier?
The different parts of the Van Trump Glacier are found at various heights. The lowest parts are around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. The highest parts reach up to 9,800 ft (3,000 m). This shows that the glacier stretches across a wide range of elevations on the mountain.
What happens to the meltwater from the glacier?
As the ice in the Van Trump Glacier melts, it turns into water. This water flows down the mountain. It eventually drains into the Nisqually River. Rivers like the Nisqually are fed by melting glaciers. This meltwater is important for the plants and animals living nearby. It also provides water for people in the region.
