harjanteet

Harjanteet are elongated, narrow ridges or crests that appear in glaciated landscapes. In Finnish geography the term denotes landforms shaped by the sculpting action of ice along or between valleys. Harjanteet may be arêtes, where two opposing valleys are carved to a sharp spine, or wider crested ridges formed by differential erosion of bedrock and, in some cases, by the deposition of glacial material such as moraine along a crest.

Formation of harjanteet results from the interaction of ice movement with the pre-existing rock structure. Glaciers erode more efficiently along certain lines, leaving resistant rock as raised crests. In some settings, accumulations of till or debris along the crest also contribute to the ridge’s final shape. After deglaciation, harjanteet commonly stand out in relief as conspicuous crests with slopes that descend into adjacent valleys or plains.

Distribution and significance vary by region but generally include areas that experienced substantial glaciation. Harjanteet are characteristic of mountain and high-latitude landscapes, including regions within the Fennoscandian Shield and other glaciated terrains. They influence drainage patterns, microclimates, and habitat distribution, and they are relevant for outdoor recreation, forestry, and land-use planning due to their orientation, slope, and accessibility.

See also: Arête, ridge, drumlin, glacial landforms, Fennoscandian Shield.