Wilson Glacier (Mount Rainier)

Wilson Glacier
TypeMountain glacier
LocationMount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA
Coordinates46°49′19″N 121°45′09″W / 46.82194°N 121.75250°W / 46.82194; -121.75250[1]
Area0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), 1983[2]

The Wilson Glacier is a medium-sized tributary glacier located on the southeast flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. Named after A.D. Wilson, who was part of an early ascent of Mount Rainier,[3] the body of ice has an area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) and has a volume of 1.9 billion feet3 (54 million m3).[2] The glacier directly feeds ice to the adjacent, but much larger Nisqually Glacier. Starting from the head at 9,700 feet (3,000 m), the glacier flows downhill southward.[4] One part of the glacier meets the Nisqually Glacier at 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and the other part of the glacier ends on a cliff in between the Wilson and Nisqually Glacier at 7,200 ft (2,200 m).[4] Meltwater from the glacier feeds the Nisqually River.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Google Earth images.
  2. ^ a b c "DESCRIPTION: Mount Rainier Glaciers and Glaciations - Mount Rainier Glacier Hazards and Glacial Outburst Floods". USGS. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  3. ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  4. ^ a b "USGS Mount Rainier East (WA) Topo Map". USGS Quad maps. TopoQuest.com. Retrieved 2008-05-17.