The Parallel Roads of Glen Roy
| rocks, geology
United Kingdom /
Scotland /
Fort Augustus /
World
/ United Kingdom
/ Scotland
/ Fort Augustus
World / United Kingdom / Scotland
rocks, geology
While they look at first glance like something the local farmer has built these natural landforms are internationally renowned and a really good example of the formation and catastrophic drainage of a series of ice dammed lakes at the end of the last ice age.
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These amazing features mark the various shorelines of a lake which was formed during the 'Loch Lomond Stadial' period of the ice age (12,900 - 11,500 years ago). During this time a glacier blocked the end of Glen Roy and acted as a dam so that water quickly accumulated in the valley above. The water stayed at each level long enough for it to cut a narrow bench in the bedrock and also deposit beach gravel along its shorelines. When the ice melted and retreated the ice dam burst and the water drained off in a spectacular manner underneath the glacier. This type of drainage is known as a 'Jokulhlaup' and can sometimes be seen happening today in places like Iceland. Charles Darwin once wrote this about Glen Roy: "I wandered the mountains in all directions and examined that most extraordinary district. I think without any exceptions, not even the first volcanic island, the first elevated beach, or the passage of the Cordillera, as so interesting to me as this week. It is far the most remarkable area I ever examined. ... I can assure you Glen Roy has astonished me".
For more info please see www.lochabergeopark.org.uk
___________
These amazing features mark the various shorelines of a lake which was formed during the 'Loch Lomond Stadial' period of the ice age (12,900 - 11,500 years ago). During this time a glacier blocked the end of Glen Roy and acted as a dam so that water quickly accumulated in the valley above. The water stayed at each level long enough for it to cut a narrow bench in the bedrock and also deposit beach gravel along its shorelines. When the ice melted and retreated the ice dam burst and the water drained off in a spectacular manner underneath the glacier. This type of drainage is known as a 'Jokulhlaup' and can sometimes be seen happening today in places like Iceland. Charles Darwin once wrote this about Glen Roy: "I wandered the mountains in all directions and examined that most extraordinary district. I think without any exceptions, not even the first volcanic island, the first elevated beach, or the passage of the Cordillera, as so interesting to me as this week. It is far the most remarkable area I ever examined. ... I can assure you Glen Roy has astonished me".
For more info please see www.lochabergeopark.org.uk
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Roy
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 56°58'0"N 4°46'47"W
- Campsie Fells 109 km
- Holyrood Park 150 km
- Garleton Hills 164 km
- Beinn Bhragair 186 km
- Ward Hill 232 km
- Hvalnesfjara 988 km
- Starmýrarfjörur 997 km
- Sandurinn 1052 km
- Thingvellir National Park 1213 km
- Geitlandshraun 1216 km
- Loch Lochy 7.8 km
- Loch Oich 11 km
- Loch Garry 15 km
- Loch Laggan 18 km
- Millennium Wind Farm 18 km
- Caledonian Canal 23 km
- Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin 36 km
- Loch Ness 38 km
- Loch Mhòr 38 km
- Perth and Kinross Council 73 km
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