List of glaciers in the United States explained

Glaciers are located in ten states, with the vast majority in Alaska.[1] The southernmost named glacier is the Lilliput Glacier in Tulare County, east of the Central Valley of California.

Apart from Alaska, around 1330 glaciers, 1175 perennial snow fields, and 35 buried-ice features have been identified.[2] [3]

Glaciers of Alaska

See also: List of glaciers in Denali National Park and Preserve. There are approximately 664 named glaciers in Alaska according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[4]

Glaciers of the Pacific Coast Ranges

The Pacific Coast Ranges include glaciers in the three states on the Pacific Coast.

Washington

There are around 880 glaciers in Washington state, with 186 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[6] However, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens eliminated nine of its eleven named glaciers and only the new glacier known as Crater Glacier has been reestablished since.

Olympic Mountains
Mount Olympus
Other peaks in the Olympic Mountains
North Cascades (non-volcanoes)
Mount Baker
Glacier Peak
Mount Rainier
Goat Rocks
Mount Adams
Mount St. Helens Mount St. Helens once had eleven named glaciers,[7] but the 1980 eruption of the volcano eliminated nine glaciers and the two remaining aren't recognized. One newly formed glacier now resides in the caldera of the volcano.

Oregon

There are up to 42 glaciers in Oregon, with 35 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[8]

Wallowa Mountains
Mount Hood[9]
Mount Jefferson
Three Sisters Region
Other Cascade Peaks

California

There are around 75 glaciers in California, with 20 named according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[10]

Mount Shasta Mount Shasta is a volcano with seven named glaciers in the northern region of California.
Sierra Nevada

Glaciers of Nevada (in the Basin and Range Province)

Basin and Range Province lies east of the Coast Ranges and west of the Rockies. There are no active glaciers in the Basin and Range Province and Wheeler Peak Glacier is considered by some to be a rock glacier.

Glaciers of the Rocky Mountains

Colorado

According to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), there are sixteen named glaciers in Colorado.[11] According to early mountain explorers and scientists, Colorado once had more than eighteen glaciers before 1880.

See also Glaciers of ColoradoSee also http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/621366

Idaho

Montana

See also: List of glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.). There are around 210 glaciers in Montana, with 60 named glaciers according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[13]

Utah

There are no visible glaciers in Utah. Timpanogos Glacier article is documentation of a buried glacier.

Wyoming

See main article: List of glaciers in Wyoming. There are around 105 glaciers in Wyoming, with 37 named glaciers according to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).[14]

See also

Notes

Reported in 2020 to have disappeared.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Krimmel, R. (2002) Glaciers of North America USGS
  2. Fountain, A. G., Glenn, B., and McNeil, C. (2023) Inventory of glaciers and perennial snowfields of the conterminous USA Earth System Science Data v15 #9: 4077–4104
  3. https://glaciers.us/glaciers.research.pdx.edu/states-glaciers-2.html States With Glaciers
  4. Web site: Alaska State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  5. News: Murkowski . Lisa . Ted Stevens Mountain, Ice Field Signed Into Law . 14 October 2021 . U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski press release . U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski press release . October 18, 2010.
  6. Web site: Washington State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  7. Phillips. William M.. Geologic Guide to the Monitor Ridge Climbing Route, Mount St. Helens, Washington . Washington Geologic Newsletter. October 1987. 15. 4. 3–13.
  8. Web site: Oregon State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  9. Web site: Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon. Volcano Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-14. 2012-09-28.
  10. Web site: California State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  11. Web site: Colorado State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  12. Drew, Micah (2022) Lonely Life of Idaho's Only Glacier IdaHome vol 3 issue 10 p29
  13. Web site: Montana State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  14. Web site: Wyoming State Glaciers Feature Query Results. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-13.
  15. Web site: Lathrop Glacier is Gone. 2020-12-28. Oregon Glacier Institute. en.

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