kids encyclopedia robot

Withrow, Washington facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
The town of Withrow with the hills that form the terminal moraine right behind it.
Erratics-Cascades-PB110028
The Withrow Moraine has large rocks (erratics) left by glaciers near Withrow.

Withrow is a small place in Douglas County, Washington, United States. It is called an unincorporated community. This means it is a group of homes and businesses that are not part of an official city or town. Instead, it is managed by the county government.

Withrow was named after a cattle rancher named J.J. Withrow.

The Amazing Ice Age Story of Withrow

Withrow sits at the edge of a very special place called the Withrow Moraine and Jameson Lake Drumlin Field. This area is so important that the National Park Service has named it a National Natural Landmark. This means it is a special place that shows us important parts of Earth's natural history.

What is a Moraine?

A moraine is like a big pile of dirt, rocks, and other debris that a glacier leaves behind. Think of a giant bulldozer pushing dirt. When the bulldozer stops, it leaves a pile. Glaciers do the same thing! The Withrow Moraine is a terminal moraine. This means it's the pile of stuff left at the very end, or "terminus," of a glacier.

The Cordilleran Ice Sheet

Long, long ago, during the Ice Age, a huge sheet of ice covered much of North America. This was called the Cordilleran Ice Sheet. A part of this giant ice sheet, known as the Okanogan lobe, moved slowly south from British Columbia in Canada.

This massive ice lobe was so big it blocked the path of the Columbia River! It pushed its way onto the high lands of the Waterville Plateau. When the climate warmed and the ice melted, it left behind the Withrow Moraine. This makes the Withrow Moraine the only terminal moraine from the Ice Age on the Waterville Plateau. It's like a giant footprint left by the ancient glacier!

Waterville Plateau
This picture shows how glaciers changed the land.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Withrow (Washington) para niños

kids search engine
Withrow, Washington Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.