Tencho Glacier

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Tencho Glacier
Southern flank of Mount Edziza.jpg
Coffee Crater with Tencho Glacier in the background
Canada British Columbia relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Tencho Glacier
Type Mountain glacier
Location Mount Edziza, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates 57°38′59″N130°39′06″W / 57.64972°N 130.65167°W / 57.64972; -130.65167 [1]
StatusRetreating

Tencho Glacier is a mountain glacier in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located inside Mount Edziza Provincial Park on the Tahltan Highland, an upland area of the Stikine Plateau. [2] [3] Tencho Glacier is the source of several small streams that flow from the Mount Edziza volcanic complex.

Contents

Etymology

The name of the glacier was suggested by the Geological Survey of Canada on November 15, 1979, and eventually became official on November 24, 1980. Tencho is derived from the Tahltan words ten and cho, which mean ice and big or great respectively. This glacier is so-named because it is the largest glacier of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex. [1]

Geography

Tencho Glacier originates from Ice Peak and Tennena Cone on the southern flank of Mount Edziza. [2] [4] Its southern terminus is surrounded by Kaia Bluff in the southeast, Coffee Crater in the south and Cocoa Crater in the southwest. Unnamed tributaries of Taweh Creek originate from the southwestern side of Tencho Glacier between Cocoa Crater and Coffee Crater. Shaman Creek originates from the southern end of Tencho Glacier whereas the eastern side of Tencho Glacier is drained by unnamed tributaries of Tennaya Creek. [2] Several unnamed tributaries of Sezill Creek originate from the western side of Tencho Glacier by Tennena Cone. [2] [4]

Geology

Tencho Glacier overlies the Ice Peak Formation, one of several geological formations comprising the Mount Edziza volcanic complex. [5] [6] Obsidian of the Ice Peak Formation occurs east and west of Tencho Glacier and possibly extends under the glacier. [6] Beds of coarse comenditic trachyte pumice belonging to the Sheep Track Member of the Big Raven Formation are exposed along the western edge of Tencho Glacier. They are up to 2 metres (6.6 feet) thick and were deposited by an eruption that probably originated from a deep, circular depression on the surface of Tencho Glacier north of Coffee Crater. A crescent-shaped ridge at the southern terminus of Tencho Glacier might be a glacially modified tuff ring that formed in a meltwater lake when the glacier extended onto the Big Raven Plateau. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Edziza</span> Stratovolcano in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Edziza, known to the local Tahltan people as Tenh Dẕetle, is a volcanic mountain in Cassiar Land District of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the Big Raven Plateau of the Tahltan Highland which extends along the western side of the Stikine Plateau. Mount Edziza has an elevation of 2,786 metres, making it the highest point of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex. However, it had an elevation of at least 3,396 metres before its formerly cone-shaped summit was likely destroyed by a violent eruption in the geologic past; its current flat summit contains an ice-filled, 2-kilometre-in diameter (1.2-mile) crater. The mountain contains several lava domes, cinder cones and lava fields on its flanks, as well as an ice cap containing several outlet glaciers which extend to lower altitudes. All sides of Mount Edziza are drained by tributaries of Mess Creek and Kakiddi Creek which are situated within the Stikine River watershed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectrum Range</span> Mountain range in British Columbia, Canada

The Spectrum Range, formerly gazetted as the Spectrum Mountains and the Rainbow Mountains, is a small mountain range in Cassiar Land District of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Located at the southern end of the Tahltan Highland, it borders the Skeena Mountains in the east and the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the west. The Spectrum Range is surrounded by the Arctic Lake Plateau in the southwest and the Kitsu Plateau in the northwest, both of which contain volcanic features such as cinder cones. It lies at the southern end of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex which includes the two neighbouring plateaus as well as Mount Edziza and the Big Raven Plateau to the north. The mountain range is drained on all sides by streams within the Stikine River watershed and, unlike Mount Edziza to the north, contains relatively small separate glaciers. Mount Edziza Provincial Park is the main protected area surrounding the Spectrum Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Raven Plateau</span> Plateau in British Columbia, Canada

The Big Raven Plateau is an intermontane plateau in Cassiar Land District of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It lies on the Tahltan Highland and is surrounded by several valleys, including those of Mess Creek, Kakiddi Creek, Chakima Creek, Walkout Creek and the Klastline River. The plateau is drained by many small streams that flow into these neighbouring valleys and, unlike the valleys, it is relatively barren of vegetation. Stream erosion has resulted in the creation of canyons with intervening ridges on the eastern and western sides of the plateau, resulting in the creation of rugged terrain. The plateau is in Mount Edziza Provincial Park which is one of the largest provincial parks in British Columbia. Access to the Big Raven Plateau is mainly by aircraft or by a network of footpaths from surrounding roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitsu Plateau</span> Plateau in British Columbia, Canada

The Kitsu Plateau is a small intermontane plateau in Cassiar Land District of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It lies on the Tahltan Highland and is surrounded by several valleys, including those of Mess Creek, Nagha Creek and Raspberry Creek. The plateau is drained by many small streams that flow into these neighbouring valleys and, unlike the valleys, it is relatively barren of vegetation. Surrounding the Kitsu Plateau is Mount Edziza Provincial Park which is one of the largest provincial parks in British Columbia. Access to this remote plateau is mainly by aircraft since motorized vehicles are prohibited from entering Mount Edziza Provincial Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennena Cone</span> Volcanic cone in British Columbia, Canada

Tennena Cone, alternatively Icebridge Cone, is a small volcanic cone in Cassiar Land District of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It has an elevation of 2,390 metres and lies on the western flank of Ice Peak, the prominent south peak of Mount Edziza. The cone is almost completely surrounded by glacial ice of Mount Edziza's ice cap which covers an area of around 70 square kilometres. Tennena Cone is 200 metres high, 1,200 metres long and up to 600 metres wide, its symmetrical structure resembling a black pyramid. The cone and the surrounding area are in Mount Edziza Provincial Park which also includes the Spectrum Range to the south.

The Sheep Track Member is a stratigraphic unit of the Big Raven Formation, part of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It consists of pumice from an explosive eruption that fell over an area about 40 square kilometres. The pumice is of comenditic trachyte composition and reaches a thickness of up to 2 metres along the western edge of Tencho Glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Edziza volcanic complex</span> Volcanic complex in British Columbia, Canada

The Mount Edziza volcanic complex is a group of volcanoes and associated lava flows in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Located on the Tahltan Highland, it is 40 kilometres southeast of Telegraph Creek and 85 kilometres southwest of Dease Lake. The complex encompasses a broad, steep-sided lava plateau that extends over 1,000 square kilometres. Its highest summit is 2,786 metres in elevation, making the MEVC the highest of four large complexes in an extensive north–south trending volcanic region. It is obscured by an ice cap characterized by several outlet glaciers that stretch out to lower altitudes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edziza obsidian</span> Naturally formed volcanic glass from Canada

Edziza obsidian is a naturally formed volcanic glass found at the Mount Edziza volcanic complex in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It occurs in at least four geological formations of the volcanic complex and was widely used by indigenous peoples during the pre-Columbian era. As a result of its widespread use, Edziza obsidian has been found in several archaeological sites throughout the Pacific Northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Raven Formation</span> Geological formation in British Columbia, Canada

The Big Raven Formation is a stratigraphic unit of Quaternary age in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the youngest and least voluminous geological formation of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex (MEVC); it overlies at least six older formations of this volcanic complex. The main volcanic rocks of the Big Raven Formation are alkali basalts and hawaiites, although a small volume of trachyte comprises the Sheep Track Member. These rocks were deposited by volcanic eruptions in the last 20,000 years during the latest magmatic cycle of the MEVC. Alkali basalt and hawaiite are in the form of lava flows and small volcanic cones while trachyte of the Sheep Track Member is mainly in the form of volcanic ejecta which covers an area of about 40 square kilometres.

Kakiddi Creek is a tributary of the Klastline River in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It flows north about 35 km (22 mi) through two lakes in a broad hummocky lowland to join the Klastline River, which in turn is a tributary of the Stikine River. Kakiddi Creek forms the northeastern boundary of Mount Edziza Provincial Park which lies within the traditional territory of the Tahltan people.

Tennaya Creek is a tributary of Kakiddi Creek, which in turn is a tributary of the Klastline River, part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It flows generally west for about 16 km (9.9 mi) to join Kakiddi Creek about 19 km (12 mi) south of Kakiddi Creek's confluence with the Klastline River. Tennaya Creek's watershed covers 63.3 km2 (24.4 sq mi) and its mean annual discharge is estimated at 1.50 m3/s (53 cu ft/s). The mouth of Tennaya Creek is located about 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Telegraph Creek, about 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Iskut and about 86 km (53 mi) south-southwest of Dease Lake. Tennaya Creek's watershed's land cover is classified as 31.3% barren, 26.0% conifer forest, 17.9% snow/glacier, 12.6% herbaceous, 9.9% shrubland, and small amounts of other cover.

Artifact Creek is a tributary of Stewbomb Creek and part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It flows generally southeast for roughly 13 km (8.1 mi) to join Stewbomb Creek, which flows into the Little Iskut River. In turn the Little Iskut River flows to the Iskut River, the largest tributary of the Stikine River.

Nagha Creek is a tributary of Kitsu Creek and part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It flows generally northwest and north for roughly 15 km (9.3 mi) to join Kitsu Creek, a tributary of Mess Creek, which in turn is a tributary of the Stikine River.

Shaman Creek is a tributary of Kakiddi Lake, the source of Kakiddi Creek, and part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. From its source in the glaciers south of Mount Edziza it flows generally east for roughly 20 km (12 mi) to empty into Kakiddi Lake, an expansion of Kakiddi Creek, a tributary of the Klastline River, which in turn is a tributary of the Stikine River.

More Creek is a tributary of the Iskut River and part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. From its source near Yeda Peak in the Spectrum Range south of Mount Edziza, it flows generally south and east for roughly 65 km (40 mi) to empty into the Iskut River, the largest tributary of the Stikine River.

Tenchen Glacier is located on the eastern flank of Mount Edziza in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It lies within an immense cirque whose headwall has breached the eastern side of Mount Edziza's summit crater. At the head of Tenchen Glacier are icefalls that drape down shear, 300-metre-high (980-foot) cliffs from the breached eastern crater rim; permanent ice fills the summit crater. Meltwater from Tenchen Glacier feeds Tenchen Creek which eventually merges with Kakiddi Creek.

Tennaya Glacier is one of several glaciers draining the eastern side of the Mount Edziza ice cap in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located southeast of the summit of Mount Edziza and northwest of Ice Peak at the head of Tennaya Creek. Meltwater from Tennaya Glacier feeds Tennaya Creek which eventually flows into Nuttlude Lake, an expansion of Kakiddi Creek.

Idiji Glacier is one of several glaciers draining the eastern side of the Mount Edziza ice cap in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located south of the summit of Mount Edziza in a cirque just southeast of Ice Peak. Idiji Glacier is separated from the much larger Tencho Glacier by a ridge that extends south of Ice Peak above the Idiji cirque headwall. Idiji Glacier is the namesake of Idiji Ridge which is just to the southeast.

Sorcery Ridge is a mountain ridge extending east of Tencho Glacier on the southern flank of Mount Edziza in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded on the north and south by valleys containing unnamed streams while to the east and northeast it is bounded by Tennaya Creek valley. Sorcery Ridge is the namesake of Sorcery Creek which flows adjacent to Tennaya Creek from another ridge just to the south.

Idiji Ridge is a mountain ridge extending east of Tencho Glacier on the southern flank of Mount Edziza in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded on the south by a valley containing an unnamed creek, on the east by Tennaya Creek valley and on the north by cirques extending east of Ice Peak. Idiji Ridge takes its name from the adjacent Idiji Glacier; Idiji means "it thunders" in the Tahltan language.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tencho Glacier". BC Geographical Names . Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A 502" (Topographic map). Telegraph Creek, Cassiar Land District, British Columbia (3 ed.). 1:250,000. 104 G (in English and French). Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. 1989. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  3. Holland, Stuart S. (1976). Landforms of British Columbia: A Physiographic Outline (PDF) (Report). Government of British Columbia. p. 49. ASIN   B0006EB676. OCLC   601782234. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-14.
  4. 1 2 "Tencho Glacier". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  5. 1 2 Souther, J. G. (1992). The Late Cenozoic Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada (Report). Memoir 420. Canada Communication Group. pp. 28, 213, 237, 267, 320, 231. doi: 10.4095/133497 . ISBN   0-660-14407-7.
  6. 1 2 Godfrey-Smith, Dorothy I. (1985). X-Ray Fluorescence Characterization of the Obsidian Flows From the Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex of British Columbia, Canada (PDF) (M.A.). Simon Fraser University. p. 49. Retrieved 2024-01-11.