Ikenät

Ikenät is a Finnish term that translates to "ice age" or "glacial period" in English. It refers to a prolonged period of reduced temperature on Earth, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets and alpine glaciers. While the term "ice age" can sometimes refer to any glacial period, in geological context, it often specifically denotes the most recent period of extensive glaciation, which began roughly 2.6 million years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago.

During ikenät, vast areas of the Northern Hemisphere were covered by thick ice sheets, significantly shaping the Earth's landscapes. This glaciation led to the formation of features such as fjords, U-shaped valleys, and moraines. The immense weight of the ice also caused isostatic depression of the Earth's crust, which has been followed by isostatic rebound in many regions since the ice melted.

The climate during an ikenät was considerably colder and drier than today. Sea levels were also much lower, as large amounts of water were locked up in ice sheets, exposing continental shelves and creating land bridges between continents. The transition between glacial and interglacial periods within an ikenät was characterized by significant changes in temperature, ice volume, and sea level. While the last major glacial period of ikenät ended thousands of years ago, scientists note that Earth is technically still within an ice age because polar ice caps exist.