Endmoränen

Endmoräne, or terminal moraine, is a ridge of unsorted glacial till deposited at the front of a glacier. It marks the furthest advance of the ice and forms along the terminus, typically perpendicular to the direction of ice flow. If a glacier pauses or stabilizes at multiple positions during retreat, several end moraines can accumulate in sequence, creating a set of recessional ridges behind the main terminal moraine.

Formation and characteristics: Endmoränen consist of material carried and abraded by the glacier, including sand, gravel, and boulders, that is deposited as the ice front becomes stationary or slows down. The resulting ridge can vary in height from a few meters to tens of meters and may appear linear or curved, following the shape of the glacier terminus. End moraines are commonly associated with other glacial deposits such as outwash plains, kettle lakes, and, in some cases, buried soil profiles that reveal the climatic context of deposition.

Relation to other moraines: End moraines are distinguished from ground moraines, which blanket areas beneath the glacier. They are related to but distinct from recessional moraines, which are ridges formed during subsequent pauses in retreat behind the terminal position. Together with related features, end moraines provide a record of past glacier advances and pauses.

Distribution and significance: End moraines are found in many formerly glaciated regions, including parts of Europe, North America, and Greenland. They serve as important indicators of the maximum extent of former glaciers and are used in geological and geomorphological studies to reconstruct paleoclimatic conditions and glacial history.