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| 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.
|
| Type |
Hanging glacier |
| Location |
Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates |
48°44′47″N, 113°43′37″W |
| Area |
14.8 acres (6 ha)[1] |
| Terminus |
Cliffs |
| Status |
Stable |
Gem Glacier is the smallest named glacier in Glacier National Park (U.S.). Located on the east side of the Continental Divide arete known as the Garden Wall, the glacier is situated on the cliff face above the better known Grinnell Glacier.[2] Unlike the much larger Grinnell Glacier, Gem Glacier has shown little evidence of retreat over the past 70 years. Gem Glacier is a hanging glacier, and drapes down from the north face of the steep arete to which it is attached. The location of the glacier may provide the key that explains why such a small glacier has retreated so little while Grinnell Glacier, though located adjacent to Gem, has in the same period of time, lost more than half its surface area.[3]
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