Scientists believe that 15,000 years ago, Canada was covered with ice. True or false?

Geography · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

True.

Around 15,000 years ago, much of Canada was indeed covered by ice. This was during the last Ice Age, more precisely the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheets extended over much of Northern America.

The Ice Age refers to a period in Earth's history when large parts of the planet were periodically covered in sheets of ice. The last Ice Age, known as the Pleistocene epoch, started about 2.6 million years ago and ended approximately 11,700 years ago. During this period, there were several cycles of glacial advance and retreat. At the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum, which occurred around 21,000 to 17,000 years ago, glaciers covered not just Canada, but also parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia. The immense weight of these glaciers altered landscapes, creating features such as the Great Lakes and the rich agricultural soils of the central United States and Canada. As the climate warmed and the ice retreated, it dramatically affected sea levels, ecosystems, and the distribution of plants and animals. This retreat eventually led to environments that supported the development of human civilization. Understanding Ice Ages and their effects on the Earth is important for students as it illustrates the dynamic nature of our planet's climate system and its capability for significant natural change.