Ice age (disambiguation) facts for kids

"Ice age" can mean a few different things! Most often, it refers to a very long time in Earth's history. During this time, temperatures dropped a lot. This caused huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, to grow and cover large parts of the planet. It can also refer to a popular series of animated movies. These movies feature prehistoric animals trying to survive in a frozen world.

Earth's Frozen Past: What Is an Ice Age?

When the World Turns Cold

An ice age is a long period of time. During an ice age, Earth's climate gets much colder. This leads to a big increase in the amount of ice. Huge glaciers and ice sheets spread out from the poles. They cover large parts of the continents. These cold periods can last for millions of years. They are separated by warmer times called interglacial periods. We are currently living in an interglacial period.

The Last Great Freeze: The Pleistocene Epoch

The most recent major ice age is called the Pleistocene Epoch. This period started about 2.58 million years ago. It ended around 11,700 years ago. During the Pleistocene, ice sheets grew and shrank many times. They covered much of North America, Europe, and Asia. Animals like woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats lived during this time. They were adapted to the cold climate.

The Wisconsin Glaciation

Within the Pleistocene Epoch, there were many cycles of cold and warm. The last major cold period was the Wisconsin glaciation. This cold spell happened from about 72,000 years ago. It ended around 11,550 years ago. During the Wisconsin glaciation, ice sheets covered most of Canada. They also covered the northern parts of the United States. This period shaped many landscapes we see today. It carved out lakes and valleys.

The "Ice Age" Movie Series

Many people know the term "Ice Age" from the popular animated movies. These films tell the stories of prehistoric animals. They face adventures during the last ice age. The main characters are Manny the mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the saber-toothed tiger.

• Ice Age (movie): The first movie was released in 2002. It introduced the main characters. They try to return a human baby to its tribe.
• Ice Age: The Meltdown: This sequel came out in 2006. The characters discover the ice is melting. They must find a safe place before a flood.
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The second sequel was released in 2009. The friends find a hidden world of dinosaurs underground.
• Ice Age: Continental Drift: This third sequel came out in 2012. The continents begin to separate. The characters are adrift at sea.