Ancient Geological Hotspot Linked to Great Lakes' Depth and Formation 1z6b72

Researchers have linked the formation of these massive water bodies to a hotspot that interacted with the Earth's lithosphere millions of years ago. While the lakes are commonly attributed to glacial activity during the Ice Age, recent findings suggest that deeper geological processes may have contributed to their formation, providing insight into their extraordinary depth and size.

Study Highlights Geological Interactions 2u2l2c

Earth's mantle, are believed to have influenced the Great Lakes region approximately 225 to 300 million years ago. As Pangea, the ancient supercontinent, moved over this hotspot, thinning of the lithosphere occurred, making the ground beneath more susceptible to external forces.

Seismic Clues Hotspot Theory 1pn51

As reported by phys.org, data from seismic wave analyses ed these claims. Unusual horizontal wave movement beneath the lakes indicated lithospheric deformation. This anomaly aligned with the age of North America over the hotspot during its drift over geological time. These conditions, as reported, would have created a weakened crust, later amplified by glacial activity during the Ice Age.

Hotspot's Legacy in the Great Lakes Formation 2v5vt

The research outlines how the Cape Verde hotspot likely underlay Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie at different points in history, contributing to the geological features that enabled the Great Lakes to form. The fragile crust allowed ice to carve deeper and larger depressions than would have been possible otherwise, creating the unique landscape seen today.

These findings reshape understanding of the Great Lakes' origins, suggesting that both deep-Earth processes and surface phenomena played critical roles in their formation.