A Geologic Youngster

Bangs Lake and most surrounding ponds and lakes in the region formed about 14,500 years ago as the Wisconsin ice sheet retreated to the east and northeast. Large chunks of ice broke off the back end of the melting glaciers, and the enormous weight of these isolated icebergs forced them deep into the earth. As the climate warmed, the partially buried icebergs melted, and meltwater filled the depressions, called kettles. Dying plant material accumulated around the edges of these water-filled kettles and formed peat. Over time, this process created the lakes and wetlands of today.

Wauconda, Illinois · United States