Glacial Lake Passaic

Glacial Lake Passaic was a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed in northern New Jersey in the United States at the end of the last ice age approximately 13,000 years ago, which was formed of waters released by the melting of the retreating Wisconsin Glacier that had pushed large quantities of earth and rock ahead of its advance, blocking previous natural drainage. In Geology, a proglacial lake is a lake formed either by the Damming action of a Moraine or Ice dam during the retreat of a melting glacier or New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period

The lake was formed on the western side of the Watchung Mountains by a blockage of the Passaic River at Moggy Hollow from a moraine left by the retreat of the glacier. The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin between 400 ft The Passaic River is a Tributary of Newark Bay, approximately 80 mi (129 km long in northern New Jersey in the United States. Moraine refers to any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions such as those The river had previously passed through the Watchungs on a northerly course near present-day Summit and Chatham and turning eastward at what is called the Short Hills Gap that separates the present day communities of Short Hills and Summit. Summit is a city in northwestern Union County, New Jersey, United States. This article is about two services shared by two adjacent communities with similar namesfor the community of Chatham New Jersey see Chatham In some Short Hills is an unincorporated area located within the township of Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. After the raising of the lake's level, the river found a new temporary course to the sea near present-day Bernardsville from Moggy Hollow along the Long Hills using a gorge at Millington. Bernardsville (ˈbɚnɚdzˌvɪl is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. For the song see CANYONMID. For the band see Canyon (band. A canyon (rarely cañon) or gorge Millington is an unincorporated area within Long Hill Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States.

Eventually the river formed its present course, a circuitous detour around the north end of the Watchung range through present-day Paterson. As the glacier retreated, the lake found a new outflow to the ocean via Great Notch near Totowa and Upper Montclair, which eventually drained most of the once mighty lake, leaving smaller lakes that eventually dried up or formed marshes and swamps.

As the glacier retreated farther to the north, the outflow of the lake drained toward the north and formed the gorge of the Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson. For the song see CANYONMID. For the band see Canyon (band. A canyon (rarely cañon) or gorge The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent Waterfall, 77 ft (23 m high on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County

A typical scene along the Passaic River which results from the drainage of the Great Swamp, a remnant of the Glacial Lake Passaic

The remnants of the Glacial Lake Passaic lake bed are found in several swamps in northern New Jersey, most notably, the Great Swamp that is south of Morristown through Chatham Township, laying in extreme southern Morris County and northeastern Somerset County. This article is about the Town of Morristown in New Jersey Other places in New Jersey with similar names are Morris Township, Morris Plains, and Moorestown Chatham Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. Morris County is a County located in the US state of New Jersey, about 25 mi (40 km west of New York City. Somerset County is a County located in the US state of New Jersey. It is the source of the Passaic River, which results from the flow into the Great Swamp of Black Brook, Great Brook, Loantaka Brook, Primrose Brook, and the Upper Passaic River that exit as the Passaic River flowing northerly via Millington Gorge. The Passaic River is a Tributary of Newark Bay, approximately 80 mi (129 km long in northern New Jersey in the United States. The Great Swamp entails a watershed of fifty-five square miles. [1]

Following the largest American conservation effort by residents, a major portion of this watershed was acquired through assembling purchases made during a year-long effort that began in 1959. Those properties, entailing 7,600 acres or just under twelve square miles, have been preserved by being donated to the federal government on November 3, 1960 as a park for perpetual protection. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The area donated has become the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and now is watched over by citizens from the ten communities that ring the swamp, who have formed thirteen separate oversight organizations. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in New Jersey primarily in Morris County, but extending into Somerset County as well Additions to the area have continued.

Higher elevations in these areas, such as Long Hill Township, the Long Hill ridge that runs from Basking Ridge through Chatham Township, Chatham, and parts of Madison, formed islands within the massive glacial lake. Basking Ridge is an unincorporated area located within Bernards Township in the Somerset Hills region of Somerset County, New Jersey Morristown is on a plateau between ranges and was the most westerly point of the massive lake that was retained by the range to its west.

See also