Jääjäänteiset

Jääjäänteiset is a Finnish term referring to glacial relics or remnants. These are geological features or phenomena that owe their origin to the action of glaciers during past ice ages. The most common examples include landforms created by glacial erosion and deposition. Erosional features include U-shaped valleys, cirques, and fjords, which are carved out by the immense power of moving ice. Depositional features, known as glacial drift, encompass a variety of sediments deposited by melting ice, such as till, moraines, eskers, and kames.

Beyond landforms, the term can also encompass other glacial legacies. This might include glacial erratics, which are large boulders transported by glaciers and deposited in areas with different bedrock composition. The presence of specific soil types, often rich in clay or sand and gravel, can also be considered a form of jääjäänteiset. Furthermore, lakes formed in depressions created by glacial activity, like kettle lakes or paternoster lakes, are also glacial remnants. The study of these features is a fundamental part of quaternary geology and glaciology, providing insights into past climatic conditions and the extent of ice sheets. Understanding jääjäänteiset is crucial for interpreting landscapes and for resource management, as these features often influence hydrology, agriculture, and the distribution of mineral deposits.