 | This articleis missing information about the nature, structure, historical and geological significance of the glacier itself. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on thetalk page.(February 2022) |
| Athabasca Glacier | |
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 Athabasca Glacier in July 2018 | |
  Athabasca Glacier  Athabasca Glacier  Athabasca Glacier | |
| Location | Columbia Icefield |
| Coordinates | 52°11′55″N117°14′37″W / 52.19861°N 117.24361°W /52.19861; -117.24361 (Athabasca Glacier)[1] |
| Area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Thickness | 90–300 metres (300–980 ft) |
| Status | Receding |
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TheAthabasca Glacier is one of the six principal'toes' of theColumbia Icefield, located in theCanadian Rockies. The glacier currently loses depth at a rate of about 5 metres (16 ft) per year[2] and hasreceded more than 1.5 km (0.93 mi) and lost over half of its volume in the past 125 years. Easily accessible, it is the most visited glacier in North America.[3] The leading edge of the glacier is within easy walking distance; however, travel onto the glacier is not recommended unless properly equipped. Hiddencrevasses have led to the deaths of unprepared tourists.
The Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, closed during the winter (mid-October to mid-April),[4] stands across from the glacier. It is used as a lodge and for ticket sales for sightseeing on the glacier. There are also two restaurants and aStarbucks located in the centre. Standard buses transport tourists from the centre to the glacier edge, where they board specially designedsnow coaches for transport over the steep grades, snow and ice part way up the glacier.
The glacier is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) long, covers an area of 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi), and is measured to be between 90–300 metres (300–980 ft) thick.
On 18 July 2020, a sightseeing snow coach rolled over on the glacier's moraine early in the afternoon, killing 3 passengers and injuring 24 others.[5][6][7] Survivors were first airlifted byParks Canada helicopters to a triage area. Nineteen of the occupants, 14 of whom suffered critical injuries, were then transported to the nearest hospitals via air and ground. In addition to countless first responders and EMS crews, threeSTARS helicopters from Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie responded to thismultiple casualty incident.
On 5 October 2018, an employee of the sightseeing company died in the parking lot after suffering serious injuries when she was struck by her unmanned bus following a collision.[8] The woman succumbed to her injuries upon arrival of the STARS air ambulance crew.
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