Factors That Helped The Formation Of Connecticut River Valley

The Surface/Landscape Change of Connecticut

There are many processes that helped Connecticut's surface and landscape get its shape. Plate tectonics, glaciation, and weathering/erosion are all major factors to this slow process. As shown in page 86 of the science notebook, plate tectonics created many landforms, but two major landforms are the Connecticut river valley and the Appalachian mountains. The Connecticut river valley was created by divergent boundaries. Divergent boundaries are tectonic plates that split apart. The Connecticut river valley was also formed from many rifts and faults that had developed. A rift valley is a region of lowland that forms where tectonic plates move apart, which is how the river valley was formed. On the other hand, the plate tectonics also formed the Appalachian mountains. The Appalachian mountains were formed by convergent boundaries, which is when two plates collide. The

Glaciers created moraines at Hammonasset Beach. Hammonasset Beach is a recessional moraine, which is formed by a glacier that moved back and left stone. Many rocks at Hammonasset came from the Hartford area because when the Wisconsin glacier moved, it brought rocks down with it. Glaciers also formed the Connecticut river. First many rifts/faults created the Connecticut river valley. Next, erosion deposited sediment into the valley, building land into it. Then, the Wisconsin glacier melted and reside north and some meltwater was collected in the lowland. This formed lake Hitchcock. Finally, water drained into the lake and headed south and then connected with the ocean. Lastly, glaciers also formed Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound is an estuary, which is a mixture of fresh and saltwater. Long Island Sound is a terminal moraine. So, a glacier moved the farthest it was able to and stopped, which is why it was deeply impacted by