When Glaciers Ruled the World!

When Glaciers Ruled the World!

Formation of the Boston Harbor Islands

Formation of the Boston Harbor Islands

Millions and millions of years ago glaciers ruled the world. Glaciers are ginormous blocks of ice that are always moving. In fact, glaciers formed one of my favorite places in the world, Boston, along with

many of the Boston harbor islands!

It all started on a cold winter day…

Alfonso, the largest glacier of them all, was on a stroll in the mountains. Alfonso was a bit of a

bully to the smaller rocks because after all, he was over a mile tall. As he slid over rocks the impact was so great that he would form scratches in the

rocks called abrasion. As the rocks cried in pain Alfonso dropped pebbles, sand and dirt on them called till. Till which is also called deposition

started to form beaches.

Alfonso, the largest glacier of them all, was on a stroll in the mountains. Alfonso was a bit of a

bully to the smaller rocks because after all, he was over a mile tall. As he slid over rocks the impact was so great that he would form scratches in the

rocks called abrasion. As the rocks cried in pain Alfonso dropped pebbles, sand and dirt on them called till. Till which is also called deposition

started to form beaches.

The rocks on a beach aren’t perfect due to erosion by wind, which can make small sand

particles blow around (loess), erosion by water which can form crevices and when water

fills them (*rills) and erosion by waves which, like any

other type of erosion, causes the rocks to crack and fall apart.

*When rills merge they form larger rills known as gullies.

The rocks on a beach aren’t perfect due to erosion by wind, which can make small sand

particles blow around (loess), erosion by water which can form crevices and when water

fills them (*rills) and erosion by waves which, like any

other type of erosion, causes the rocks to crack and fall apart.

*When rills merge they form larger rills known as gullies.

All of these rocks can form spits and

longshore drifts which are small pieces of land attached to a

larger piece of land. An example of this is cape

cod.

All of these rocks can form spits and

longshore drifts which are small pieces of land attached to a

larger piece of land. An example of this is cape

cod.

Even though Alfonso wasn’t the fastest glacier he was always moving. He would push against

dirt and then when he got tired he would retreat. The dirt that was pushed would cause

moraines to form.

Another one of Alfonso’s hobbies was forming kettle ponds. When pieces of ice would break of him they would form pits in the ground. When the ice melted it would leave water in its place. These

were known as kettle ponds.

Another one of Alfonso’s hobbies was forming kettle ponds. When pieces of ice would break of him they would form pits in the ground. When the ice melted it would leave water in its place. These

were known as kettle ponds.

Then, after a long day of picking up rocks, pebbles and boulders, Alfonso came to a stop when he saw this huge rock (erratic) right in the

middle of his path! Alfonso wondered who ever could

have deposited this boulder so he looked around only to find

the prettiest glacier he had ever seen...Gertrude!

Then, after a long day of picking up rocks, pebbles and boulders, Alfonso came to a stop when he saw this huge rock (erratic) right in the

middle of his path! Alfonso wondered who ever could

have deposited this boulder so he looked around only to find

the prettiest glacier he had ever seen...Gertrude!

Alfonso approached Gertrude, tapped her on the shoulder and

asked if it was her who had deposited that erratic. She

looked up at him mesmerized by his glory. She nodded her

head slowly and also admitted to being the one who put the sand particles in the streams

(runoff). Gertrude apologized and Alfonso, being the kind

and noble gentlemen that he is, accepted her apology.

Alfonso approached Gertrude, tapped her on the shoulder and

asked if it was her who had deposited that erratic. She

looked up at him mesmerized by his glory. She nodded her

head slowly and also admitted to being the one who put the sand particles in the streams

(runoff). Gertrude apologized and Alfonso, being the kind

and noble gentlemen that he is, accepted her apology.

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Together they formed drumlins which are pretty much just huge piles of till. When these drumlins got surrounded by water they were

known as drowned drumlins which are what many of the Boston Harbor Islands are

including...Georges Island! Gertrude and Alfonso lived happily ever after and as for there baby’s

(the boston harbor islands) well, lets just say they are grown up.

Together they formed drumlins which are pretty much just huge piles of till. When these drumlins got surrounded by water they were

known as drowned drumlins which are what many of the Boston Harbor Islands are

including...Georges Island! Gertrude and Alfonso lived happily ever after and as for there baby’s

(the boston harbor islands) well, lets just say they are grown up.