Yahtse River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yahtse River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Yahtse River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Malaspina Glacier 59°55′56″N 141°13′51″W / 59.93222°N 141.23083°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 63 miles (101 km) west of Yakutat 59°51′48″N 141°23′36″W / 59.86333°N 141.39333°W |
The Yahtse River is a short stream located in Alaska, United States. It gets its water from the massive Malaspina Glacier and flows into the Pacific Ocean. In the local Tlingit language, its name is Yas'ei Héen.
This river is special because it shows how much glaciers can change the land. For a long time, the Yahtse River was the main way water flowed out of the western part of the Malaspina Glacier.
The Malaspina Glacier's Influence
The Yahtse River's story is closely tied to the Malaspina Glacier. This glacier is one of the largest piedmont glaciers in North America. A piedmont glacier is a wide, lobe-shaped glacier that forms when one or more valley glaciers flow out of a mountain range onto a flatter plain.
For many years, the Yahtse River carried a lot of melted ice and water from the Malaspina Glacier. It was like a big drain for that part of the glacier.
How the River Changed
In the 20th century, something big happened. The glaciers in a nearby area called Icy Bay started to melt and shrink a lot. This melting caused the landscape to change.
Because of these changes, the main path for water flowing out of the Malaspina Glacier shifted. The water started to flow more towards the Caetani River, which drains into Icy Bay.
By the early 21st century, the Yahtse River was almost completely abandoned. This means it no longer carried much water from the glacier. It became a much smaller, less important stream.
Why Glaciers Matter
The story of the Yahtse River is a good example of how powerful glaciers are. They can shape mountains, create valleys, and even change the paths of rivers. When glaciers melt or grow, they affect the environment around them. This includes rivers, lakes, and even the ocean.
Scientists study rivers like the Yahtse to understand how glaciers are changing today. This helps them learn about climate and how our planet is evolving.
