The Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes were carved by ice glaciation in the valleys. Lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin were gouged out by glaciers and later filled with water from melting glaciers. Niagara falls was formed when the glaciers created dams on the rivers and changed the flow.
During the last glacial period, the ice that covered New York was approximately 5,000 to 7,000 feet thick. This ice sheet, known as the Laurentide Ice Sheet, extended over much of North America and had a significant impact on the landscape and climate of the region.
Last Glacial Maximum
Moving to new areas.
Moving to new areas.
Among its many influences, glaciation formed the Great Lakes and Long Island (NY state).
Glacial ice shaped North America through processes such as erosion, transportation, and deposition. As glaciers advanced and retreated, they carved out valleys, created lakes, and sculpted mountain ranges, leaving behind distinctive landforms like U-shaped valleys and fjords. Additionally, glaciers transported sediments over vast distances, depositing them as moraines and outwash plains, which contributed to the region's diverse geological features. This glacial activity significantly influenced the landscape, ecology, and even human settlement patterns in North America.
A glacial system is a complex combination of glaciers, ice sheets, ice caps, and icebergs. It involves the movement of ice and snow, as well as the processes of accumulation and ablation of ice. Glacial systems play a crucial role in shaping the Earth's landscape and influencing global climate patterns.
During the Last Glacial Maximum, an ice sheet covered most of North America from Texas to Alaska. This ice sheet was part of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which extended over much of Canada and parts of the northern United States during the peak of the last ice age.
Ice age glaciers formed lakes in North America and Europe through processes of erosion and deposition. As glaciers advanced, they carved out depressions in the landscape, creating basins that would later fill with water as the glaciers melted. Additionally, meltwater from the glaciers contributed to the formation of lakes, while glacial debris often blocked river valleys, leading to the creation of natural dammed lakes. This interplay of glacial movement and melting resulted in the numerous lakes found in these regions today.
The Wurm Glacial Period, also known as the Last Glacial Maximum, was a period of intense glaciation that occurred about 20,000 years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. It was characterized by extensive ice sheets covering much of North America, Europe, and Asia, leading to lower global sea levels and significant changes in climate. The Wurm Glacial Period had a major impact on the earth's landscape, shaping features like moraines, eskers, and drumlins that are still visible today.
During the last ice age, continental glaciers were found covering large portions of North America, northern Europe, and Siberia. These glaciers extended over Canada, the northern United States, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia, shaping the landscape and leaving behind distinct glacial features.
North America was extremely cold 20,000 years ago due to the Last Glacial Maximum, a period during the last Ice Age when massive ice sheets covered large parts of the continent. These ice sheets, primarily the Laurentide Ice Sheet, reflected sunlight and lowered temperatures. Additionally, changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt influenced climate patterns, contributing to the overall cooling. This resulted in a harsh environment characterized by tundra and glacial landscapes.