Veiki moraine
Encyclopedia
A Veiki moraine is a particular type of moraine
found in northern Sweden
and parts of Canada
that is characterized by forming a hummocky landscape of moraine plateaus with elevated rims that are intercalated with ponds. The name Veiki derives from the type locality of Veiki in Swedish Lapland. Towards southern Norrland
Veikimoraines are gradually replaced by Rogen moraines as the most prominent morainic landforms, and to the north near Finland
there is a gradual transition to what is called Pulju moraines. One of the most prominent Veiki moraines is the Lainio Arc (Swedish: Lainiobågen) in Torne älv, a large scale moraine lobe pointing southeastwards that is made of Veiki moraines. The lobe have been interpreted as the remaines of a large glacial surge.
Although originally thought as being remains of the last glacial period Swedish Veiki moraines are now believed to be of late Saalian age. Veiki moraines are believed to have been formed by supraglacial till
that during the late Saale glaciation or the early Eemian interglacial partially protecting dead-ice
from melting. This insultation did not hinder parts of the ice to melt creating ponds between the till covered dead-ice. When dead-ice finally melted the ponds remained like plateaus sorrouned by rims of till. The subsequent Weichsel glaciation did not significantly altered the morphology of the Veiki moraines now exposed.
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
found in northern Sweden
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
and parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that is characterized by forming a hummocky landscape of moraine plateaus with elevated rims that are intercalated with ponds. The name Veiki derives from the type locality of Veiki in Swedish Lapland. Towards southern Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
Veikimoraines are gradually replaced by Rogen moraines as the most prominent morainic landforms, and to the north near Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
there is a gradual transition to what is called Pulju moraines. One of the most prominent Veiki moraines is the Lainio Arc (Swedish: Lainiobågen) in Torne älv, a large scale moraine lobe pointing southeastwards that is made of Veiki moraines. The lobe have been interpreted as the remaines of a large glacial surge.
Although originally thought as being remains of the last glacial period Swedish Veiki moraines are now believed to be of late Saalian age. Veiki moraines are believed to have been formed by supraglacial till
Till
thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
that during the late Saale glaciation or the early Eemian interglacial partially protecting dead-ice
Dead-ice
Dead-ice occurs when a glacier or ice sheet ceases to move and melts in situ. After the ice has melted it leaves behind a hummocky terrain produced by the deposition of glacio-fluvial sediments and ablation till as the ice melted. Such features include kettle holes...
from melting. This insultation did not hinder parts of the ice to melt creating ponds between the till covered dead-ice. When dead-ice finally melted the ponds remained like plateaus sorrouned by rims of till. The subsequent Weichsel glaciation did not significantly altered the morphology of the Veiki moraines now exposed.