North Mowich Glacier

North Mowich Glacier
Type	Mountain glacier
Location	Mount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA
Coordinates	46°52′55″N 121°48′31″W / 46.88194°N 121.80861°W / 46.88194; -121.80861
Area	2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), 1983[1]

The North Mowich Glacier is a glacier located on the northwest flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) and contains 9.5 billion ft³ (269 million m³) of ice.^[1] Starting from the foot of Rainier's steep Mowich Face at about 9,600 feet (2,900 m), the glacier first consists of two lobes of ice that flow downhill to the northwest. The southern arm of the glacier is connected to the adjacent Edmunds Glacier. As the two sections of ice join up, they form a large, relatively flat plateau of ice ranging from 7,800 feet (2,400 m) to 8,300 feet (2,500 m).^[2] This plateau is an unbroken expanse of ice except for Needle Rock, which pokes out of the glacier ice. From then on, the southern part of the glacier terminates at about 6,400 feet (2,000 m), while the northern, rocky arm flows down a glacial valley and ends at about 5,800 ft (1,800 m) in elevation.^[2] The North Mowich Glacier gives rise to the North Mowich River.^[1]

See also

• South Mowich Glacier
• List of glaciers

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "DESCRIPTION: Mount Rainier Glaciers and Glaciations - Mount Rainier Glacier Hazards and Glacial Outburst Floods". USGS. http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Rainier/Glaciers/description_rainier_glaciers.html. Retrieved 2007-11-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Needle Rock, USGS Mowich Lake (WA) Topo Map". USGS Quad maps. TopoQuest.com. http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=46.88198&lon=-121.80861&datum=nad27&zoom=8. Retrieved 2008-05-17.