Lake Agassiz, Glacial lake in Saskatchewan, Canada
Lake Agassiz was a massive prehistoric lake that covered parts of what is now Saskatchewan during the last ice age. Its sediment deposits today form the flat plains and fertile soils that shape large areas of the Canadian prairies.
Glacial meltwater pooled around 13,000 years ago as the ice began to retreat and natural barriers trapped the water. The lake drained roughly 8,000 years ago through several outlets that altered sea levels worldwide.
Ancient indigenous peoples utilized the elevated beach ridges of Lake Agassiz for campsites, burial grounds, and seasonal travel routes across the region.
Traces of the former lake appear as beach ridges and deposits scattered across large stretches of land. Geological exhibits in regional museums display maps and findings that illustrate the extent of this vanished body of water.
During its existence, the lake was deeper than modern Lake Superior and covered an area larger than the Black Sea. Its drainage caused a global temperature drop that influenced the climate history of the planet.
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