Winthrop Glacier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Winthrop Glacier
Seracs near 10,000 feet (3,000 m) on the Winthrop Glacier in 2002
Seracs near 10,000 feet (3,000 m) on the Winthrop Glacier in 2002
Type Mountain glacier
Location Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates 46°52′34″N, 121°44′31″W[1]
Area 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), 1983[2]

The Winthrop Glacier is a large glacier on the northeastern side of Mount Rainier in Washington. Named after Theodore Winthrop, the body of ice covers 3.5 mile2 (9.1 km²) and has a volume of 18.5 billion feet3 (523 million m³).[2] Starting at over 14,300 feet (4,400 m) at the Columbia Crest, the glacier heads north and descends steeply over the uneven topography of Rainier.[3] Another glacier, the Emmons Glacier is directly connected to this glacier up to the Steamboat Prow. After passing the Prow, the glaciers split up; the Emmons heads east-northeastward and the Winthrop continues northeast. As the terrain becomes flatter, the Winthrop glacier becomes heavily rock-covered when it terminates in a forest at about 4,900 ft (1,500 m).[3] Meltwater from the glacier drains into the White River.[2]

[edit] Debris flows

The glacier is one of four on Mount Rainier that are known to have released debris flows. Similar flows have stemmed from the Nisqually, Kautz, and South Tahoma glaciers as well.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Google Earth images.
  2. ^ a b c d DESCRIPTION: Mount Rainier Glaciers and Glaciations - Mount Rainier Glacier Hazards and Glacial Outburst Floods. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  3. ^ a b USGS Sunrise (WA) Topo Map. USGS Quad maps. TopoQuest.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
v • d • e
Glaciers of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
See also
Glaciers of Mount Adams · Glaciers of Mount Baker · Glaciers of Glacier Peak · Glaciers of the Olympic Mountains · Glaciers of other Washington mountains