GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF THE GULF OF MAINE

The Gulf of Maine began forming roughly 190 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

Early Formation of the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine began forming roughly 190 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

Early Formation of the Gulf of Maine

Keep an eye on the Gulf of Maine as it falls into its modern position.

The Gulf of Maine began forming roughly 190 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

Early Formation of the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine began forming roughly 190 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

Early Formation of the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

The Gulf of Maine began forming roughly 190 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

Early Formation of the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

Roughly 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced on the Gulf of Maine, bulldozing rocks into the ocean that it had collected on its route through Canada.

18,000 years ago

An Ice Sheet Carves out the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

Roughly 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced on the Gulf of Maine, bulldozing rocks into the ocean that it had collected on its route through Canada.

18,000 years ago

An Ice Sheet Carves out the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

Roughly 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced on the Gulf of Maine, bulldozing rocks into the ocean that it had collected on its route through Canada.

18,000 years ago

An Ice Sheet Carves out the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

Roughly 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced on the Gulf of Maine, bulldozing rocks into the ocean that it had collected on its route through Canada.

18,000 years ago

An Ice Sheet Carves out the Gulf of Maine

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

The Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated completely from the Gulf of Maine roughly 13,000 years ago…

13,000 years ago

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

…revealing the landscape and seafloor we see today.

13,000 years ago

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

13,000 years ago

How did the ice sheet shape the Gulf of Maine?

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

13,000 years ago

How did the ice sheet shape the Gulf of Maine?

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

13,000 years ago

How did the ice sheet shape the Gulf of Maine?

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

•These underwater mountains, or banks, surround the Gulf of Maine and define the local environment.

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

13,000 years ago

How did the ice sheet shape the Gulf of Maine?

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

•These underwater mountains, or banks, surround the Gulf of Maine and define the local environment.

•For example, nutrient-rich water from the Arctic tends to swell and concentrate over George’s Bank, flooding the area with nutrients.

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

•These underwater mountains, or banks, surround the Gulf of Maine and define the local environment.

•For example, nutrient-rich water from the Arctic tends to swell and concentrate over George’s Bank, flooding the area with nutrients.

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

13,000 years ago

How did the ice sheet shape the Gulf of Maine?

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

•These underwater mountains, or banks, surround the Gulf of Maine and define the local environment.

•For example, nutrient-rich water from the Arctic tends to swell and concentrate over George’s Bank, flooding the area with nutrients.

•When the ice sheet melted away, it released mountains of rocks that it had bulldozed along its route through North America.

•These underwater mountains, or banks, surround the Gulf of Maine and define the local environment.

•For example, nutrient-rich water from the Arctic tends to swell and concentrate over George’s Bank, flooding the area with nutrients.

•As a result, George’s Bank is one of the most productive fisheries in the Gulf of Maine and is crucial to the Maine fishery business.

What two major geologic events helped shape the Gulf of Maine?

The Gulf of Maine began forming when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

What two major geologic events helped shape the Gulf of Maine?

The Gulf of Maine began forming when the supercontinent Pangea started to break up.

190 million years ago

18,000 years ago

North American glaciers encroached on the Gulf of Maine during the last ice age, revealing the modern underwater landscape that shapes the Gulf of Maine today.

What two major geologic events helped shape the Gulf of Maine?

The Gulf of Maine today.