| Eel Glacier | |
|---|---|
 Eel Glacier centered on the Anderson massif | |
  Eel Glacier | |
| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Mount Anderson, Olympic National Park, Jefferson County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 47°43′37″N 123°20′20″W / 47.72694°N 123.33889°W[1] |
| Length | 1.05 mi (1.69 km) |
| Terminus | Talus/Proglacial lake |
| Status | Retreating |
Eel Glacier is located to the north of Mount Anderson and east of West Peak, in Olympic National Park in the U.S. state of Washington.[2] The northward-facing glacier starts at about 6,600 feet (2,000 m) in elevation, with an arm extending up to 7,100 ft (2,200 m). As the glacier flows north, it descends in elevation to about 5,200 ft (1,600 m) at its terminus. Meltwater from the glacier gives rise to Silt Creek, which flows through the Olympic Mountains and Olympic National Park.[2] Between 1920 and 2009, Eel Glacier has retreated significantly, losing 50 percent of its surface area.[3]
Eel Glacier's name was obtained by taking mountaineer Fairman B. Lee's last name and spelling it backwards. Lee was a member of the first expedition to summit Mount Anderson in 1920.[4]
- ^ "Eel Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ a b Mount Steel, WA (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ "Glaciers and Climate Change". National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.