The gently rolling hills and small lakes you see from this overlook are part of the glacially formed landform called hummocky terrain. The hummocks are visible as the numerous knobs with round broad shapes that are typically less than 50 feet high. The small lakes are the depressions that have filled with water and are referred to as kettles.
These knobs and kettles were formed by the glaciers that covered this area over 100,000 years ago. They were about 2 miles thick and contained large amounts of rocks and sediment. When the glaciers began to recede for the final time about 10,000 years ago, they melted and deposited all the sediment and rocks they had accumulated. The rocks and sediment piled up into the knobs and the depressions formed the kettles. Bands of hummocky terrain commonly mark the former margins of the great ice sheets that covered North America and Europe.
Also, of special interest, behind you and to the northwest, is an ancient burial mound that was most likely created by the ancestors of a Native American tribe. Thousands of years ago, this was apparently a remarkable view for them as well! Please show proper respect for this special place.
To receive credit for this earthcache, please email to me the answers to the following questions:
- What is the elevation at this spot?
- How many prominent hummocks do you see to the left of you?
- Describe their shape.
- How were they formed?