Glacial Lake Wisconsin was a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed from approximately 19,000 to 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, in the central part of present-day Wisconsin in the United States. 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 one formed by meltwater trapped against a ice sheet due to isostatic depression of the crust around the ice. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Largest metro area Greater Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42° 30′ N to 47° 05′ N  - Longitude 86° 46′ W to...

Glacial Lake Wisconsin was formed by meltwater flowing from glaciers that covered the northern and eastern portions of Wisconsin. The lake was bounded by an ice sheet of the Green Bay Lobe on the east, and by higher topography on its other margins. At its maximum stage, the lake was approximately the same size as the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and up to 150 ft (45 m) deep. Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere,[1] the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world,[2] and the 33rd largest lake on Earth. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

The eventual sudden bursting of an ice dam left by the retreating glaciers caused a catastrophic flood that formed the Dells of the Wisconsin River in pre-existing Cambrian sandstone on the south edge of the lake. The resulting flood lowered the level of the lake to approximately 50 ft (15 m). Flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ... Dells of the Wisconsin River The Dells of the Wisconsin River (used in the singular, and also called the Wisconsin Dells) is a 5 mi (8 km) gorge on the Wisconsin River in southern Wisconsin in the United States noted for its particular scenic beauty, in particular for its unique... For other uses, see Cambrian (disambiguation). ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ...

Eventually, the Wisconsin River flowed through its grand canyon to its mouth at the Upper Mississippi River. The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. ... See also: Mississippi River The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River upstream of Cairo, Illinois. ...

See also

• List of prehistoric lakes
• Lake Wisconsin

This a partial list of prehistoric lakes. ... For the prehistoric lake, see Glacial Lake Wisconsin. ...

External links

• Geologic History of Wisconsin River