Gem Glacier

{{Short description|Glacier in Montana, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}

{{Infobox glacier

| name = Gem Glacier

| photo = Grinnell overlook.jpg

| photo_caption = Gem Glacier is the small snowy patch in the upper right, in the notch on the cliffs. The larger and better known Grinnell Glacier is below.

| type = Hanging glacier

| location = Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S.

| map = USA Montana

| map_caption = Location in Montana

| label_position = right

| map_size = 225

| coordinates = {{coord|48|44|48|N|113|43|40|W|region:US-MT|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref ={{cite gnis|id=771735|name=Gem Glacier|accessdate=2012-08-12}}

| area = {{convert|5|acre|km2}} in 2005{{Cite web|title=Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park |publisher=United States Geological Survey |year=2010 |url=http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/products/GlacierRecession_infosheet2010_SRC_040910.pdf |access-date=2010-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511154502/http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/products/GlacierRecession_infosheet2010_SRC_040910.pdf |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |df=mdy }}

| length =

| thickness =

| terminus = Cliffs

| status = Retreating

}}

This is Gem Glacier is the smallest glacier in Glacier National Park (U.S.). Located on the east (Glacier County) side of the Continental Divide arête known as the Garden Wall, the glacier is situated on the cliff face above the better known Grinnell Glacier.{{Cite map|publisher=TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps)|title=Logan Pass, MT|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=48.74664&lon=-113.72789&datum=nad83&zoom=4|accessdate=2012-08-12}} Gem Glacier is a hanging glacier, and drapes down from the north face of the steep arete to which it is attached. Gem Glacier is only {{convert|5|acre|km2|abbr=on}} in area and is far below the {{convert|25|acre|km2|abbr=on}} threshold often cited as qualifying as an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Gem Glacier lost 30 percent of its acreage and Grinnell Glacier lost 40 percent.