Riggs Glacier
Encyclopedia
Riggs Glacier is a glacier
in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It begins on the southern slope of the Takhinsha Mountains
, 6 km (4 mi) southeast of Mount Harris and flows south-southeast to the head of Muir Inlet, 69 km (43 mi) southwest of Skagway
.
It was named by the American Geographical Society
in 1947 for Thomas Riggs, Jr., Governor of Alaska from 1918 to 1921.
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...
in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Glacier Bay National Park is a national park in Alaska. The area around Glacier Bay in southeastern Alaska was first proclaimed a U.S. National Monument on February 25, 1925. It was changed to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve on Dec. 2, 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It begins on the southern slope of the Takhinsha Mountains
Takhinsha Mountains
The Takhinsha Mountains are a mountain range in Haines Borough and the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, in the southeastern part of the state. They extend 40 km west-northwest from the northern end of the Chilkat Range to the head of Riggs Glacier, 46 km southwest...
, 6 km (4 mi) southeast of Mount Harris and flows south-southeast to the head of Muir Inlet, 69 km (43 mi) southwest of Skagway
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a city first incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862...
.
It was named by the American Geographical Society
American Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world...
in 1947 for Thomas Riggs, Jr., Governor of Alaska from 1918 to 1921.