Wellesley Glacier
Encyclopedia
Wellesley Glacier is a 4 miles (6.4 km) long glacier
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It trends east for 4 miles (6.4 km) to a lagoon on the west bank of College Fjord
, 3.7 mi (6 km) southwest of College Point and 54 mi (86.9 km) west of Valdez
. It was named for Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
by members of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition
.
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 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 trends east for 4 miles (6.4 km) to a lagoon on the west bank of College Fjord
College Fjord
College Fjord is a fjord located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound in the U.S. state of Alaska. The fjord contains five tidewater glaciers , five large valley glaciers, and dozens of smaller glaciers, most named after renowned East Coast colleges...
, 3.7 mi (6 km) southwest of College Point and 54 mi (86.9 km) west of Valdez
Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,020. The city is one of the most important ports in Alaska. The port of Valdez was named in 1790 after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y...
. It was named for Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
by members of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition
Harriman Alaska Expedition
In 1899, wealthy railroad magnate Edward Harriman arranged for a maritime expedition to Alaska. Harriman brought with him an elite community of scientists, artists, photographers, and naturalists to explore and document the Alaskan coast...
.