Defiance Moraine facts for kids
The Defiance Moraine is a long, low ridge of hills and rocks. It was left behind by a giant ice sheet, like a huge bulldozer, about 14,800 years ago. This happened during the last part of the Wisconsin glaciation, which was a very cold period when much of North America was covered in ice. The Defiance Moraine stretches across the northern part of Ohio, from the city of Defiance, Ohio in the west all the way to the Pymatuning Reservoir area in the east.
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What is the Defiance Moraine?
The Defiance Moraine is a special type of landform. It's like a big pile of dirt, rocks, and gravel that a glacier pushed and then left behind as it melted. Think of it as a giant, natural wall built by ice! This moraine is a key feature in many parts of Ohio.
How Was It Formed?
About 14,800 years ago, a huge ice sheet, part of the Wisconsin glaciation, covered much of Ohio. As this glacier slowly moved, it scraped up tons of earth and rocks. When the climate warmed, the glacier stopped moving forward and began to melt. All the material it had been carrying was dropped, forming this long ridge we call the Defiance Moraine.
Where Can You Find the Moraine?
This ancient ridge runs through many counties in Ohio. Besides Defiance County, you can find parts of the moraine in Putnam, Hancock, Seneca, Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Trumbull, and Ashtabula counties. It even passes just south of the small village of Alvada, Ohio in Seneca County.
What Does the Moraine Look Like?
The Defiance Moraine isn't a sharp mountain range. It's more like a wide, gentle hill.
Size and Shape
The top of the moraine is usually about 850 to 860 feet above sea level. It can be anywhere from two to five miles wide. Its shape is a bit uneven. On the south side, it rises quite suddenly from the flat land. But on the north side, it slopes down very gradually, making its exact edge hard to spot.
Impact on Rivers
This ancient landform also plays a role in where some rivers begin. For example, the Black River starts its journey right on the Defiance Moraine, between the towns of New London and Lodi.
Geauga County's Ring
In Geauga County, the moraine almost forms a circle around the county. It wraps around the west, north, and east sides. In this area, it's about 1 to 2 miles wide and rises about 10 to 30 feet from the surrounding land.
