Lohkareita

Lohkareita are large rock fragments that have become detached from bedrock and remain on the landscape either in place or after being transported by natural processes. They vary in size from roughly a decimeter to several meters and can be angular or rounded depending on how they were formed and moved. Freshly broken blocks tend to be more angular, while long-distance transport by ice or water often smooths their edges.

The formation of lohkareita is linked to weathering and erosion processes such as freeze-thaw action, thermal stress, and, in many landscapes, glacial activity. Glaciers can pick up blocks from bedrock and deposit them as glacially transported erratics, while frost weathering and rockfall can create blocks that remain in place on slopes, fields, or shorelines. Local geology largely determines the mineral composition of lohkareita, reflecting the source rock.

Lohkareita are significant for landscape history and geological interpretation. Their distribution helps reconstruct past glacial movements, rock sources, and erosion patterns. Ecologically, they create microhabitats for lichens, mosses, and small plants, and they influence soil formation and drainage in the areas where they occur.

Common occurrences include upland bedrock regions, moraine fields, and coastal areas with extensive rock exposure or glacial remnants. In Finnish landscapes, lohkareita are a familiar component of many natural and cultural settings, marking both geological history and present-day terrain.