moraines

Moraines are accumulations of debris—like rocks, dirt, and clay—that are left behind by glaciers as they move and melt. They form when the glacier picks up material from the landscape and deposits it at its edges or terminus. Moraines can appear as ridges, mounds, or plains, depending on how and where the debris is deposited. They provide signs of past glacial activity and help geologists understand how glaciers shaped the terrain. Essentially, moraines are the rocky footprints of glaciers’ movement and melting process.