Traces from the ice ages
Meandering ridges and deep grooves – these small features in the landscape are evident wherever you go in Gränslandet. Many the traces of the ice age have strange names, such as Rogen moraine, glacial meltwater channels and ridges. It might sound complicated, but if you keep your eyes open you’ll see the traces everywhere.
Above the shorelines of the glacial lake are other visible remains of the ice age – grooves, glacial meltwater channels and ridges. The grooves are almost parallel with the shorelines. Therefore, it may be difficult for a layperson to distinguish between the two. The meltwater channels and ridges, on the other hand, run at a right angle to the contour lines.
The last ice age began 115 000 years ago, and the ice melted around 10 000 years ago. The thickness of the ice sheet was 3 kilometres. It’s not surprising that it left its mark! Below are some of the most sensational and typical ice age traces found in Gränslandet.
Why are the mountains rounded?
Most mountain tops in Gränslandet are fairly rounded and gentle.
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Where do all the boulders come from?
The question certainly seems justified when you walk through Femundsmarka and other parts of Gränslandet. It’s almost as if stones and boulders have grown straight out of the ground.
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What is Rogen moraine?
Look at a map over the area around Lake Rogen, and you’ll see a peculiar pattern of bow-shaped lakes and spits.
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Grövelsjön’s striped mountain slopes!
The mountain slopes surrounding Grövelsjön are striped! The dark, horizontal lines were discovered by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1734. Read more »
Meltwater ridges, meltwater channels or glacial grooves?
We’ll try to explain what is what among these ice age traces. Read more »
Who has been to Juttulslätten?
In the remote eastern part of the nature reserve, where few visitors ever set foot, is the flat and curious Juttulslätten plain.
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Everyone likes boulder ridges!
Many of the paths and trails in the mountains follow the crests of long ridges. Read more »
Reading tip
Fylkesmannen i Hedmark. Miljöavdelningen. Spor fra istida i Nord-Österdal.
Rejte, A.J. 1997: Istidsspor i Røros kommune. Veiledning till kvartærgeologisk kart. Norges Geologiska undersøkelse, Gråsteinen 2.
Wolden, Knut 2010. Røros Verdensarv med kåppår, krom og kvitsand. Om fjell, malm, gruver og istidsspor i rørosområdet. Gråsteinen nr. 13 – 2010. Tapir akademisk forlag.