Interlobate Landscape

Provided and copyright by: Randy Schaetzl, Michigan State University - Geography
Summary authors & editors: Randy Schaetzl

All along the western edge of Michigan's Lower Peninsula (but inland about 10-50 miles or 16 to 80 km) runs a large, sandy, rolling interlobate landscape. This area lies at the margins of two former large glacial lobes -- the Lake Michigan Lobe and the Saginaw Lobe. Formed at the suture of these two ice lobes, interlobate landscapes tend to contain large amounts of sand and gravel, washed in by meltwater. Large rocks also accumulate here. Buried ice blocks eventually melt, leaving behind a hummocky landscape with many irregularly shaped basins (kettles). Photo taken on November 24, 2006.

Related Links:

• Quaternary Landscapes Research Group
• Illustrated Glossary of Glacial Landforms
• Glacial Glossary
• Glaciers of the Northeast U.S (PDF)