The surface of our planet is surprisingly diverse due to the work of wind, flowing waters, glaciers, etc. One of the interesting and unusual forms of relief is the “ram's forehead”. What does it look like and how is it formed?
Terrestrial diversity: glacial forms
Large massifs of ice, known in science as glaciers, do a tremendous amount of geological work. First of all, this work consists in moving rock fragments, sometimes over very long distances.
A glacier, as you know, is formed from snow, which eventually turns into dense ice. Under the influence of gravity, this huge ice mass begins to move, "slide" on the earth's surface. At the same time, it exerts significant mechanical pressure on the underlying surface. Figuratively speaking, the glacier, as it were, plows up the rocks under it, transfers their fragments and deposits them in the form of the so-called moraine. The composition of such a moraine can be very diverse. It depends on the geological structure of the area, as well as on the size of the glacier itself.
There are many different shapesglacial relief. Some of them are formed by mountain glaciers (kars, cirques, troughs, and others). The formation of others is associated with the process of deposition of moraine material (sands, eskers, kams, and others).
In the geological history of the Earth, there were at least four epochs of glaciation that scientists know about. Our planet experienced the last and most powerful of them relatively recently - in the Quaternary period. At that time, vast territories of North America, Europe and Asia were covered with a solid shell of ice. Glaciers simply “ploughed out” soft rocks. But if solid crystalline rocks were encountered on their way, then a unique form of relief could form - “ram's forehead”. It will be discussed further.
Definition: "Lamb's foreheads" are… Origin of landforms
What are "lamb foreheads"? In geography, this term refers to rocky ledges, the surface of which is smoothed and polished by a glacier. Moreover, the slope that was facing the movement of the glacier is smoother and gentler. The opposite, usually steep and uneven.
"Lamb's forehead" is a classic glacial landform. This term is usually written in quotation marks. Although many geologists believe that these quotes can be removed, because the concept has long lost its original metaphor.
These landforms are not very large in size. Their length rarely exceeds 100-200 meters, and the height reaches 50 meters. "Sheep foreheads" are found in the zones of the last and more ancient periodsglaciation. They are widely distributed within the B altic (northern Europe) and Canadian (North America) shields. The complex of several "sheep's foreheads" is commonly called curly rocks.
In Russia, "sheep foreheads" can be seen on the Kola Peninsula, in Karelia and Northern Ladoga. Very often they are located along the shores of northern lakes of glacial origin. We will tell about one of these lakes below.
Semenovskoye lake – a recreational pearl of Murmansk
In the northern part of Murmansk, in the area of Chelyuskintsev Street, there is a picturesque Semenovskoye Lake. They named it after the local "overgrown and gray-haired" fisherman Semyon, who lived and fished on the shores of the Kola Bay.
The lake is small (the area of the water surface is about 20 ha). Its maximum depth is 18 meters. From November to May, the lake is covered with a thick layer of ice. The reservoir has an irregular shape and is connected to the Kola Bay by a stream.
Semenovskoe Lake is an important recreational and tourist site of the northern city. On its banks there is a children's town, a boat station, an oceanarium and an amusement park. In summer, a fountain operates in the middle of the reservoir. It was presented to the city by one of the enterprises of Kirovsk. The fountain blends wonderfully into the green zone of Murmansk.
In summer, sailing regattas cut through the water surface of Lake Semenovsky. In winter, skiers and lovers of diving into the ice hole are happy to go out on the lake ice.
Monument of nature: "ram's forehead" near the lakeSemyonovskoe
Murmansk is one of the northern cities of Russia. This is the largest settlement on the planet, located beyond the Arctic Circle. The city is located on the Kola Peninsula, on the east coast of the bay of the same name. It is here, as mentioned above, that unique forms of glacial relief are common - “ram's foreheads”. And one of them can be seen right in the city. This is the "ram's forehead" near Lake Semenovskoye.
Murmansk is located in the zone of the last (Quaternary) glaciation. Therefore, it is not surprising that ancient glaciers left many traces on this earth.
"Sheep's forehead" near Lake Semenovskoye is a natural geological monument of great scientific and educational value. It is located in the area of Askoldovtsev Street, approximately in the middle between the shore of Lake Semenovsky and the coast of the Kola Bay. This natural object became a monument in 1980. Its total area is only half a hectare.
Description of the monument and its value
The object looks like a small rocky ledge of ancient granites of the Archean age. This rock was once carefully polished and generously covered with furrows by a glacier. Its slope is directed to the south - it was from there that a powerful glacier once moved.
Vegetation near this outcrop is also interesting. The local flora is represented by shrub tundra and birch crooked forest. Several rare species of mosses occur within the natural monument.
Such objects are not bigrare for this region. However, this "ram's forehead" is unique and valuable in that it is located within the boundaries of a large city. Thanks to this, it is very often visited by tourists, students and schoolchildren.
In conclusion
"Sheep's forehead" is a form of relief, the origin of which is associated with glacial abrasion. Its surface is smooth, polished by ice and covered with shallow "scratches" (cracks and furrows). "Sheep's forehead" near Lake Semenovskoye is a vivid example of such a relief form. This unique natural monument is located within the Kola Peninsula, in the northern part of the city of Murmansk.
