Watkins Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watkins Glacier |
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 Watkins Glacier
Location in California
Watkins Glacier
Location in the United States
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Siskiyou County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°23′57″N 122°10′38″W / 41.39917°N 122.17722°W |
| Area | .04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Length | .2 mi (0.32 km) |
| Terminus | Moraine |
| Status | Expanding |
The Watkins Glacier is a glacier found on the side of Mount Shasta in California, USA. It sits in a small bowl-shaped area called a cirque. This cirque is part of the Clear Creek area. The Watkins Glacier is the smallest glacier on Mount Shasta that has an official name. It only got its name in 1976 after a long effort by a local person, R. Harry Watkins, Jr. He worked for many years to get this glacier recognized.
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What is the Watkins Glacier?
The Watkins Glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice. It is located on the southeastern side of Mount Shasta. A cirque is like a natural amphitheater carved into the mountain by glacial ice. The Watkins Glacier is quite small compared to other glaciers. It covers about 0.04 square miles (0.10 square kilometers). It is also about 0.2 miles (0.32 kilometers) long.
Where is the Watkins Glacier Located?
The Watkins Glacier is one of three small cirque glaciers on the southern part of Mount Shasta. The other two are the Konwakiton Glacier and the Mud Creek Glacier. These glaciers are located about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to the west. The Watkins Glacier is found at a lower height than most other glaciers on Mount Shasta. It stretches from about 10,400 feet (3,170 meters) up to 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) above sea level.
Has the Watkins Glacier Grown or Shrunk?
Scientists studied Mount Shasta's glaciers in 2002. This was the first detailed look at them in 50 years. They found that many of the glaciers, including the Watkins Glacier, had actually grown bigger between 1951 and 2002.
How Much Have the Glaciers Changed?
Seven of Mount Shasta's glaciers, including the Watkins, grew during this time. The Hotlum Glacier and Wintun Glacier almost doubled in size. The Bolam Glacier grew by half its size. The Whitney Glacier and Konwakiton Glaciers also became about one-third larger. This growth shows that some glaciers can expand even as others around the world might be shrinking.
