Matanuska Glacier and Moraines, Alaska - Places of Geologic Significance on Waymarking.com

This rest area/park has interpretive displays and walking paths for viewing the Mantanuska Glacier and moraines.

The interpretive sign for the moraine reads:

"Where to find a glacier

You're most likely to find glaciers at high elevation or closer to the poles. Growing at Elevation. Glaciers can form wherever winter snowfalls exceeds summer melt. At higher elevations, you're more likely to find snowy winters followed by cool summers- ideal conditions for growing glaciers. Lasting at Latitudes. Antarctica doesn't have snowy winters, yet it has over 86% of the world's glacial ice.

How can that be?
Lots of latitude. The sun's energy is less concentrated near the poles, which means little energy is available to melt snow and ice. In a warming global climate, glaciers at higher latitudes will last longer than those at lower latitudes.

Prime Conditions Right Here
This area has the elevation, latitude and snowfall to sustain a glacier. matanuska Glacier's upper basin sits at 10,000 ft, just below the tallest mountain in the Chugach Range, Mt. Marcus Baker. Its latitude and elevation combine for cool summers. At these elevations, summer temperatures average below freezing- and it can snow any day of the year.
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The Making of Moraines

while grinding down a valley, a glacier collects mountains of material, piece by piece. Where does it all go? The glacier carries the debris downhill like a giant conveyer belt. When this debris reaches the ice's edge, it is deposited as moraine.

The Main Moraines.
Moraines can be mounds, ridges or simply bumps of debris dropped by a glacier. Most moraines cotain a wide assortment of silt, sand, gravel and boulders of all sizes Moraines are categorized by how and where the material was deposited;

Terminal Moraines form at the end of a glacier, marking the glacier's furthest advance. If a glacier re-advances, this moraine is destroyed and a new terminal moraine will be established. Recessional Moraines can form behind the terminal moraine, marking periods when the glacier was stationary during its overall retreat.

Lateral Moraines form along glacier sides. Rocks that have fallen or been dislodged from the valley walls are carried by the ice. When the ice melts the debris is left along the glacier's edges. You may be standing on one of Matanuska Glacier's lateral moraines.

Medial Moraines form when the lateral moraines of two glaciers merge, creating one dark band of debris down the middle. Sometimes, when one of the two glaciers moves faster than the other, the medial moraines will swirl.

State of Alaska Parks Dept.


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The interpretive sign for Glaciers reads:
"Where to find a glacier
You're most likely to find glaciers at high elevation or closer to the poles. Growing at Elevation. Glaciers can form wherever winter snowfalls exceeds summer melt. At higher elevations, you're more likely to find snowy winters followed by cool summers- ideal conditions for growing glaciers. Lasting at Latitudes. Antarctica doesn't have snowy winters, yet it has over 86% of the world's glacial ice. How can that be? Lots of latitude. The sun's energy is less concentrated near the poles, which means little energy is available to melt snow and ice. In a warming global climate, glaciers at higher latitudes will last longer than those at lower latitudes.

Prime Conditions Right Here
This area has the elevation, latitude and snowfall to sustain a glacier. Matanuska Glacier's upper basin sits at 10,000 ft, just below the tallest mountain in the Chugach Range. Its latitude and elevation combine for cool summers. At these elevations, summer tempertures average below freezing-and it can now any day of the year."

Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes Access fee (In local currency): .00 Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no Public Transport available: no Website reference: [Web Link] Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.

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