πŸ“– what

What is a kettle lake?

GeographyLakes

Quick Answer

A kettle lake is a lake formed when a block of buried ice from a retreating glacier melts and leaves a depression that fills with water.

The Full Story

As glaciers retreat, chunks of ice can become buried in outwash sediment. When that ice eventually melts, the ground collapses into a roundish basin that fills with groundwater or rain. Kettle lakes are common in glaciated landscapes of North America and northern Europe. They are often small compared with tectonic lakes, but they are important features of post-glacial terrain.

Key Facts

1.Kettle lakes form from melting buried ice
2.They are common in glaciated regions
3.They usually occupy depressions left in glacial deposits

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"How a melting glacier leaves behind a lake"