368 



HISTORICAL GEOLOGY 



The Glacial Epoch in Eukope 



In many important respects the history of the Quaternary 

 period in Europe is much like that of North America. The accom- 

 panying map (Fig. 228) shows the extent (about 600,000 square 

 miles) of the ice sheet at the time of maximum glaciation. As the 

 map also shows, the great center of dispersal was over the Scandi- 

 navian peninsula, with apparently a small, secondary centre over 

 Scotland. The ice over Scandinavia is estimated to have been 



6000 to 7000 feet 

 deep. The Baltic, 

 North, and Irish 

 Seas were completely 

 filled by the great ice 

 sheet which extended 

 well south into Ger- 

 many and Russia. As 

 in North America, 

 five or six glacial and 

 interglacial stages 

 have been recognized. 

 During the Glacial 

 epoch, the glaciers of 

 the Alps were far 

 larger and more 



Fig. 228 

 Map showing the extent of ice in Europe at the 

 time of maximum glaciation. (After J. Geikie, 

 from Norton's "Elements of Geology," by per- 

 mission of Ginn and Company, Publishers.) 



numerous than today, and they often flowed down to the lowlands 

 on all sides. The Pyrenees and the Caucasus Mountains were 

 also vigorously glaciated. 



As in North America, also, northern Europe was notably higher 

 than now, apparently late in the Tertiary or early in the Quater- 

 nary; then, toward the close of the Glacial epoch, there was sub- 

 sidence (of Scandinavia at least) to below the present level; and 

 this was followed by partial re-elevation of at least some hundreds 

 of feet to the present level. Actual surveys have proved that from 

 central to northern Sweden the land is still rising. The great 

 fiords of Norway, with their raised beaches, testify to the impor- 

 tant changes of level above mentioned. 



In other continents many of the higher mountains bore glaciers, 

 even where none at all exist today. Also, so far as known, the 

 Antarctic region was heavily glaciated much as it is today. 



