Glacial Lake Wisconsin

Glacial Lake Wisconsin was a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed from approximately 19,000 to 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, in the central part of present-day Wisconsin in the United States.

Glacial Lake Wisconsin was formed by meltwater flowing from glaciers that covered the northern and eastern portions of Wisconsin. The lake was bounded by an ice sheet of the Green Bay Lobe on the east, and by higher topography on its other margins. At its maximum stage, the lake was approximately the same size as the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and up to 150 ft (45 m) deep.

The eventual sudden bursting of an ice dam left by the retreating glaciers caused a catastrophic flood that formed the Dells of the Wisconsin River in pre-existing Cambrian sandstone on the south edge of the lake. The resulting flood lowered the level of the lake to approximately 50 ft (15 m).

Eventually, the Wisconsin River flowed through its grand canyon to its mouth at the Upper Mississippi River.

ee also

*List of prehistoric lakes
*Lake Wisconsin

External links

* [http://lwr.state.wi.us/subcategory.asp?linksubcatid=440&linkcatid=481&linkid= Geologic History of Wisconsin River]