Late Glacial Maximum

The Late Glacial Maximum (LGM) was the peak of the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago, when ice sheets covering large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia reached their greatest extent. During this time, much of the Earth's land surface was cold and covered in ice, causing sea levels to drop significantly. This created land bridges, such as between Asia and North America, enabling animal and human migration. The LGM marks the coldest period before temperatures began to rise again, leading to the retreat of ice sheets and the start of the current interglacial period.