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Moraine - Formation, Types of Moraine, Features, Famous Moraines And More

Last Updated on Sep 14, 2023
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A moraine is a type of landform that is formed by the deposition of glacial till. Till is a mixture of rock, sand, and clay that is carried by a glacier. When a glacier melts, it leaves behind its load of till, which can form moraines. Moraines can be found in many different places around the world. They are often found in mountainous areas. Moraines can be a significant feature of the landscape. They can be used to learn about the history of glaciation in an area. 

Glaciers and their erosional and depositional landforms are an important part of physical geography which can be seen in both prelims and mains of UPSC IAS exams. In this article, we will cover in detail everything about Moraines.

Here you can also read about Glaciers in detail!

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What is a Moraine?

Moraine is a physical landform that is made out of glacial till, which is primarily unsorted, and unstratified debris deposited by glacial ice. Both areas that are currently covered in glaciers and regions where glaciers have previously passed through have these debris fields

The individual rock fragments of glacial till typically range in size from silt-sized glacial flour to large boulders, and sub-angular to round in shape.

Read this article to know about Glacial Erosional Landforms!

Formation of Moraine

The process of formation of moraines can be divided into three main stages:

Deposition

The first stage is the deposition of the till. As a glacier moves, it scrapes against the ground, picking up rocks, sand, and clay. This material is carried along by the glacier until it melts. When the glacier melts, the till is deposited on the ground, forming a moraine.

Compaction

The second stage is the compaction of the till. The till that is deposited by a glacier is not very tightly packed. As it settles, the till compacts, becoming denser and more solid.

Erosion

The third stage is the erosion of moraines. Moraines are often eroded by wind and water. This erosion can cause moraines to change shape or even disappear altogether.

The process of formation of moraines can take thousands or even millions of years. The final shape and size of a moraine will depend on many factors. Here are some of the factors that affect the formation of moraines:

  • The size and speed of the glacier: The larger and faster the glacier, the more material it will pick up and deposit.
  • The type of terrain: The type of terrain that the glacier is moving over will affect the type of moraine that is formed. 
  • The climate: The climate of the area will also affect the formation of moraines. 

Read this article to study Plate Tectonics!

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Types of Moraines

Moraines can be categorized into four different types on the basis of origin, location with respect to a glacier or former glacier, or by shape namely:

  • Lateral Moraine
  • Medial Moraine
  • Supraglacial Moraine
  • Terminal or End Moraine
  • Ground Moraine
  • Arctic push moraines
  • Washboard moraines
  • Veiki moraine
  • Recessional moraine

Lateral Moraine 

A lateral moraine is a ridge of rocks and soil that forms along the side of a glacier. It is made up of material that the glacier has scraped off the sides of the valley as it moves.

Medial Moraine 

A medial moraine is a ridge of rocks and soil that forms in the middle of a glacier. It is made up of material from two lateral moraines that have been pushed together when two glaciers collide.

Supraglacial Moraine

A supraglacial moraine is a layer of rocks and soil that forms on the surface of a glacier. It is made up of material that has fallen from the surrounding landscape onto the glacier. It also contains dust and dirt that has been deposited by wind and rain.

Terminal or End Moraine 

A terminal moraine is a ridge of rocks and soil that forms at the end of a glacier. It is made up of all the debris that was scraped off the ground by the glacier as it moved forward.

Read this article to study about the origin and evolution of the earth here!

Ground Moraine

Ground moraines frequently appear as undulating, peculiarly contoured terrain covered with grass or vegetation. Unlike other moraines, they lack distinct ridges. Composed of sediment, ground moraines gradually accumulate beneath glaciers through small streams or when glaciers encounter hills and valleys. As glaciers melt, the underlying ground moraine becomes visible. These are the most prevalent moraines and are present on all continents.

Arctic Push Moraines

An Arctic push moraine is a distinctive landform shaped by glacial processes in polar regions. It is formed when a glacier advances and pushes debris, rocks, and sediment ahead of it. As the glacier moves, it gathers and carries along a mixture of material from the terrain it encounters. When the glacier's leading edge comes to a halt or slows down, this accumulated debris gets deposited in a mound-like formation known as a push moraine. 

Washboard Moraines

Washboard moraines are intriguing glacial landforms that resemble the ridges found on a washboard. These formations are created by the movement of glaciers over uneven terrain. As a glacier advances, it carries along debris, rocks, and sediment. When the glacier flows over irregular surfaces, the pressure exerted by the ice leads to the deposition of this material in a series of parallel ridges and troughs. These ridges appear as if they have been sculpted by the repetitive motion of a washboard.

Veiki Moraine

A Veiki moraine is a distinct glacial feature that originates from the movement of ice masses and their interaction with the underlying terrain. These moraines are primarily associated with the phenomenon known as "surge-type" glaciers. During a glacier surge, the ice experiences a rapid and temporary acceleration in its movement. This surge is typically followed by a period of slower motion. As the glacier advances during a surge, it collects and carries along a mixture of debris, rocks, and sediment from the landscape it traverses.

Recessional Moraine

A recessional moraine is a significant glacial landform that forms as glaciers gradually retreat during periods of melting and reduced ice accumulation. As a glacier retreats, it periodically halts or slows down due to changes in climate or other factors. During these pauses in retreat, debris, rocks, and sediment that were originally carried by the glacier get deposited in a distinct ridge-like formation known as a recessional moraine.

Source: National Geographic

Read this article to know about Glacial Depositional Landforms!

Moraines - Constructive or Destructive

The Earth is constantly evolving. Some of these changes, such as the formation of the Grand Canyon, take millions of years to occur, while others are drastic shifts that take place in a matter of seconds. These alterations to our planet can be classified as either constructive or destructive factors.

Events that strengthen the Earth or bring about favorable developments are constructive.

Events that cause a portion of the Earth to be destroyed or broken down are destructive.

Glaciers rip rock and soil along their path as it moves along. Also, it accumulates supraglacial sediments on its surface during its journey. When a glacier melts, this material remains piled or spread over the ground surface, forming a depositional landform called a moraine. A constructive process is when sediments are added to land and built it up. Hence, moraines are constructive.

Some of the Most Famous Moraines Around the Globe

Here are the names of some of the most famous moraines around the globe, along with the place where they are located:

  • End Moraine of the Laurentide Ice Sheet: North America
  • Horseshoe Moraine: Rocky Mountains, Canada
  • Moraine Lake Moraine: Canadian Rockies, near Banff National Park, Canada
  • Mendenhall Moraine: Alaska, USA
  • Rogen Moraine: Sweden
  • Oeschinensee Moraine: Switzerland

Read this article on Landforms Created by Wind.

Glacial Erosional and Depositional features 

Glaciers are large, thick masses of ice that form on land after falling snow has been compressed into ice for centuries.

During its lifetime, a glacier creates a variety of landforms that can be divided into erosional and depositional landforms. Moraines come under one of the depositional landforms created by glaciers during their lifecycle.

  • Erosional Features
    • o Cirques
    • o Glacial Through
    • o Hanging Valley
    • o Arte
    • o Horn
    • o Fjords
  • Depositional Features
    • O Outwash Plain
    • o Esker
  • Kame Terraces
    • o Drumlin
    • o Kettle Holes
    • o Moraine

Conclusion

Moraines record the dynamics of Earth's ice ages and the advance and retreat of glaciers across the land. Studying moraines helps scientists understand how glaciers behave. It throws light into the forces shaping the landscapes they pass through. They will add to our knowledge of glacial history and climate change. They act as natural archives of information etched within the debris they contain. For this reason, moraines are of considerable scientific importance.

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FAQs on Moraine

Moraines might seem like unsorted glacial till in the form of lengthy ridges or hills.

Kettle Moraine USA and The Mothership Canada are some of the most famous moraines.

Lateral, Medial, Supraglacial and Terminal Moraines are different types of Moraines.

Two types of Glacial Drift are Till and Stratified.

Moraines are a depositional feature of a Glacier

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