West Depot Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Depot Glacier |
|
|---|---|
 West Depot Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
|
|
| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Coordinates | 48°57′29″N 121°18′06″W / 48.95806°N 121.30167°W |
| Length | .70 mi (1.13 km) |
| Terminus | Barren rock and icefall |
| Status | Retreating |
West Depot Glacier is a cool glacier located in the North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington, U.S.. It sits high up on the north side of a big mountain called Mount Redoubt. This glacier is like a giant, slow-moving river of ice!
Contents
West Depot Glacier: A Mountain of Ice
West Depot Glacier is a fascinating natural feature found in the North Cascades National Park. It is a type of glacier known as a mountain glacier. This means it forms high up in the mountains. It is located in Whatcom County, Washington, which is in the northwestern part of the state.
Where is West Depot Glacier?
This glacier is found on the northern slopes of Mount Redoubt. Mount Redoubt is a tall peak within the North Cascades mountain range. The glacier starts at an elevation of about 7,400 feet (2,255 meters). It then flows down to about 5,900 feet (1,798 meters). That's a drop of about 1,500 feet!
Water from the Glacier
As the glacier melts, its water flows into a stream called Depot Creek. This creek then carries the water into Chilliwack Lake. So, the glacier helps to feed water into the local rivers and lakes.
Neighboring Glaciers
West Depot Glacier is close to another glacier called Depot Glacier. A natural ridge of rock separates these two glaciers. Depot Glacier is located to the east of West Depot Glacier.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves very slowly over land. Glaciers form in places where more snow falls in winter than melts in summer. Over many years, the layers of snow get compressed and turn into ice.
How Glaciers Move
Glaciers move because of gravity. They slowly slide downhill, like a very thick, frozen river. This movement can be very powerful. It can carve out valleys and shape mountains over thousands of years.
Types of Glaciers
There are different types of glaciers. West Depot Glacier is a mountain glacier. Other types include ice sheets, which are much larger and cover vast areas of land, like in Greenland or Antarctica.
Glaciers and Climate Change
Many glaciers around the world, including West Depot Glacier, are currently shrinking. Scientists call this "retreating." This means the glacier is melting faster than new snow can build it up.
Why Glaciers Retreat
Glaciers retreat mainly because of changes in Earth's climate. When temperatures get warmer, more ice melts. Less snow might also fall in winter, which means less new ice forms.
Importance of Glaciers
Glaciers are important for many reasons:
- They store a lot of the world's fresh water.
- They help regulate global temperatures.
- They provide water for rivers and streams, which people and animals rely on.
Studying glaciers like West Depot Glacier helps scientists understand more about our planet's climate and how it is changing.
