Jäätikkövuonoja

Jäätikkövuonoja, meaning glacial fjords in Finnish, are a specific type of fjord characterized by their formation through glacial erosion. These fjords are typically found in regions that were once covered by massive ice sheets, such as Scandinavia, Greenland, and parts of Canada and Alaska. During glacial periods, the immense weight and erosive power of glaciers carved deep, U-shaped valleys into the bedrock. As the glaciers retreated at the end of the ice age, these valleys were flooded by the sea, creating the characteristic long, narrow, and deep inlets known as fjords.

The defining feature of a jäätikkövuono is the presence of a sill or threshold at its mouth, often shallower than the main body of the fjord. This sill is a remnant of glacial moraine, material deposited by the glacier as it retreated. Behind this sill, the fjord can extend far inland, often reaching depths considerably greater than at the entrance. The steep, often sheer, rock walls that rise directly from the water are also a hallmark, a direct result of glacial undercutting. The water within these fjords is typically brackish, a mix of freshwater runoff from surrounding land and saltwater from the ocean. The geological processes that create jäätikkövuonoja are slow and occur over vast timescales, making them significant features for understanding past climatic conditions and glacial dynamics.