|The rolling hills of much of western New York State were sculpted by advancing and retreating glaciers--great sheets of ice about a mile in thickness. Many parts of New York undoubtedly looked like modern-day Glacier Bay like the photo at right. Glaciation occurred during the past 1 million years, however the ice did not completely disappear until between 10 and 25 thousand years ago. Left behind was a land of rolling hills, glacier incised valleys and a rich variety of landforms all the result of about one million years of churning of the earth's surface by large, continental glaciers.|
|Prehistoric Pittsford: Ice Age Landscape|
|Samuel J. Ciurca, Jr.
Rochester, New York
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Samuel J. Ciurca, Jr.
|The region covering and surrounding the town of Pittsford, New York appeared much different during the past 1 milliion years. Covered by a thick sheet of ice, the topography was changed drastically leaving behind a great variety of glacial and erosional features we see today.|
Ice Age Landscapes
|In the area where you live--what would happen if more snow fell each year than melted during the warmer periods of the year? If the snow kept piling up, year after year, how long would it take before it piled up to a mile in thickness over your house? Learn more about glaciers, especially continental glaciers and their impact on the land--the shaping of topography. Visit your local library or museum.|
|WHERE TO GO IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
Glacial features literally cover most of our area here in western New York. There are many places to view these glacial features, but one of the best is Mendon Ponds Park.
ICE AGE FOSSILS
The remains of great beasts, like the mastodons, occur in local glacial deposits. The Pike Mastodon was discovered in July of 1876 and can be viewed in the Museum at Letchworh State Park. The skull is 43 inches long and the tusks, 96 inches in length. Information from the Wyoming County Democrat, July 6, 1876.
|MENDON PONDS PARK
Mendon Ponds Park 2,381 acres
|Swimming Beach with Bathhouse, Fishing, Picnic (nine shelters), Softball Fields, Hiking and Nature Trails, Bridle Paths, Ice Skating Rink, 5 (day use) Lodges, Group Camping, and a Nature Center. Wildlife abounds, with many deer present A great variety of birds are known in- cluding the great blue herons. Mendon Ponds Park can be reached from New York Route 65 at Monroe Avenue. Head south, cross the NYS Thruway, Mendon Ponds Park is on the left. There are several entrances to the park. Check out 100 Acre Pond, the Devil's Bathtub, the glacial esker--and other points of interest.|
|WISH TO LEARN EVEN MORE?
CHECK OUT THE FINGER LAKES OF NEW YORK,
FORMED BY RIVERS AND GLACIERS DURING THE LAST MILLION YEARS.
SEARCH THE WEB OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.
|Ice Volcanoes & Lake Ontario
Remnants of our Ice Age History: Check out the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Winter and take a look at Ice Volcanoes examined in February-March 2005. I thorougly enjoyed seeing them.
ICE VOLCANOES - LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE