Puyallup Glacier
Encyclopedia
The Puyallup Glacier is a glacier
on the west flank of Mount Rainier
in Washington. It covers 2 square miles (5.2 km²) and contains 10.2 billion ft3 (289 million m3) of ice. Sharing the same source of ice as the northern South Mowich Glacier
, the Puyallup Glacier begins as a branch off the ice stream that flow out of the Sunset Amphitheater. From the split at around 8500 feet (2,590.8 m), the glacier expands into a broad sheet of ice ranging from 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) to 7400 feet (2,255.5 m) in elevation. Leaving the large expanse of ice, the glacier flows down a small valley, it narrows significantly as it turns northwestward. From there on, the glacier is dirty and ends on steep, uneven terrain at about 6000 ft (1,828.8 m). The glacier gives rise to the Puyallup River
.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
on the west flank of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
in Washington. It covers 2 square miles (5.2 km²) and contains 10.2 billion ft3 (289 million m3) of ice. Sharing the same source of ice as the northern South Mowich Glacier
South Mowich Glacier
The South Mowich Glacier is a glacier located on the western flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers and contains 4.5 billion ft3 of ice. Starting from the high-altitude cliffs above the Sunset Amphitheater at over , the glacier flows west down Mount Rainier. The glacier is connected to...
, the Puyallup Glacier begins as a branch off the ice stream that flow out of the Sunset Amphitheater. From the split at around 8500 feet (2,590.8 m), the glacier expands into a broad sheet of ice ranging from 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) to 7400 feet (2,255.5 m) in elevation. Leaving the large expanse of ice, the glacier flows down a small valley, it narrows significantly as it turns northwestward. From there on, the glacier is dirty and ends on steep, uneven terrain at about 6000 ft (1,828.8 m). The glacier gives rise to the Puyallup River
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it is formed by glaciers on the west side of Mount Rainier. It flows generally northwest, emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound...
.