Glacial Lake Cape Cod facts for kids
Glacial Lake Cape Cod was a huge lake that existed a very long time ago. It formed during the last Ice Age, right where Cape Cod Bay is today. This lake was created by melting ice from a giant glacier.
What Was Glacial Lake Cape Cod?
Imagine a giant lake that covered much of what is now Cape Cod Bay. That was Glacial Lake Cape Cod! It wasn't there forever, though. This special lake only existed for a while during the last Ice Age. It was a temporary lake, formed by the powerful forces of ice and water.
How Did This Giant Lake Form?
About 20,000 years ago, a massive sheet of ice called the Laurentide Ice Sheet covered much of North America. As the climate slowly warmed, this giant glacier started to melt and shrink. The melting ice created huge amounts of water, called meltwater.
But there was a problem! The glacier, as it moved, pushed and piled up a lot of dirt, rocks, and sand. This pile of material is called a moraine. This moraine acted like a natural dam, blocking the meltwater from flowing into the ocean. So, the water collected behind this dam, forming Glacial Lake Cape Cod.
Where Did the Water Go?
Eventually, the lake found ways to drain. The water flowed out through certain low spots in the moraine. These drainage points included areas that are now Bass River, the location of the Cape Cod Canal, and Orleans Harbor. Over time, as the glacier continued to melt and retreat, the lake completely drained away, leaving behind the landscape we see today, including Cape Cod Bay.
