journal features

ice and the great lakes: the plot thickens

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2011.08.25

So it seems I'm not the only skeptic of the theory that glaciers created the Great Lakes of North America.

Someone has taken quite some pains to discuss the formation of glacial till moraines and the lakes themselves in terms of great flows of water. I'm not sure that I understand exactly what he's getting at, but it seems to be that the ice pushed North America so far down that it was well below sea level when it started to rebound. The erosion of the lakes therefore coming about first by exposure to ocean currents, and then by force of the ocean pouring off of the nascant continent. Not sure I'm convinced, especially when it comes to something as sketchy as the remains of whales.

But the bathymetry of lake Huron in particular highlights the extent of the problem. There are some clearly fjord-like features in lake Huron; its whole south-western portion looks like three glacial valleys. But what's with the north? That looks like a much older and more weathered terrain with clear river valleys at points well below the current lake level.

Good to see that some people at least are talking about an alternative.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering