LGM (Last Glacial Maximum)

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was the peak period of the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago, when massive ice sheets covered large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. During this time, global temperatures were much colder, causing sea levels to drop as water was trapped in ice. Many plants and animals adapted to these conditions, and human populations often migrated to refuge areas. The LGM marked the height of glaciation before the Earth's climate began to warm again, leading to the retreat of ice sheets and the rise of current continents and ecosystems.