Salmon Glacier
Encyclopedia
The Salmon Glacier is a glacier
located ~25 km (15.5 mi) north of Stewart, British Columbia
, and Hyder, Alaska
, just on the Canadian side of the border. The glacier, one of hundreds in the Boundary Ranges
, is notable for its major potential as a natural hazard
. Summit Lake
is located at the northern end of the glacier and every year around mid-July the lake breaks an ice-dam and then flows under the Salmon Glacier into the Salmon River
. This causes the river to rise approximately 4 – for several days.
The glacier can be accessed by road from Hyder, Alaska
, from early July to late September.
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...
located ~25 km (15.5 mi) north of Stewart, British Columbia
Stewart, British Columbia
Stewart is a small town, incorporated as a district municipality at the head of the Portland Canal in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. In 2006, its population was about 496.-History:...
, and Hyder, Alaska
Hyder, Alaska
Hyder is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 97. Hyder has achieved fame as a point in Alaska accessible to automobile and motorbike travelers in Canada who want to say that they have been to Alaska...
, just on the Canadian side of the border. The glacier, one of hundreds in the Boundary Ranges
Boundary Ranges
The Boundary Ranges, also known in the singular and as the Alaska Boundary Range, are the largest and most northerly subrange of the Coast Mountains...
, is notable for its major potential as a natural hazard
Natural hazard
A natural hazard is a threat of a naturally occurring event that will have a negative effect on people or the environment. Many natural hazards are interrelated, e.g. earthquakes can cause tsunamis and drought can lead directly to famine. It is possible that some natural hazards are...
. Summit Lake
Summit Lake
-Lakes:In Canada:*Summit Lake , Central Interior of British Columbia.*Summit Lake , Algoma District, Ontario.*Summit Lake , Algoma District, Ontario.*Summit Lake...
is located at the northern end of the glacier and every year around mid-July the lake breaks an ice-dam and then flows under the Salmon Glacier into the Salmon River
Salmon River (Alaska)
The Salmon River is a braided stream that flows through Hyder, Alaska, and empties into the Portland Canal. It is fed by meltwater from the Salmon Glacier, which is located within British Columbia approximately 13 miles north of its confluence into the Canal and is road-accessible from the town of...
. This causes the river to rise approximately 4 – for several days.
The glacier can be accessed by road from Hyder, Alaska
Hyder, Alaska
Hyder is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 97. Hyder has achieved fame as a point in Alaska accessible to automobile and motorbike travelers in Canada who want to say that they have been to Alaska...
, from early July to late September.
Further reading
- Haumann, Dieter, 1960, Photogrammetric and glaciological studies of Salmon Glacier: Arctic, v. 13, no. 2, p. 74–100
- Clark, K.C., and Holdsworth, G., 2002, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1386-J: Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World -- North America, p. 291-299