Gem Glacier is the smallest named glacier in Glacier National Park (U.S.). Located on the east (Glacier County) side of the Continental Divide arête known as the Garden Wall, the glacier is situated on the cliff face above the better known Grinnell Glacier.[3] Gem Glacier is a hanging glacier, and drapes down from the north face of the steep arete to which it is attached. Gem Glacier is only 5 acres (0.020 km2) in area and is far below the 25 acres (0.10 km2) threshold often cited as qualifying as an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Gem Glacier lost 30 percent of its acreage and Grinnell Glacier lost 40 percent.[2]
| Gem Glacier | |
|---|---|
 Gem Glacier is the small snowy patch in the upper right, in the notch on the cliffs. The larger and better known Grinnell Glacier is below. | |
  Gem Glacier Location in Montana | |
| Type | Hanging glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°44′48″N 113°43′40″W / 48.74667°N 113.72778°W[1] |
| Area | 5 acres (0.020 km2) in 2005[2] |
| Terminus | Cliffs |
| Status | Retreating |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Gem Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
- ^ a b "Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
- ^ Logan Pass, MT (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved August 12, 2012.
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