Glacial erratic at Velo Snižno (Veliko Snježno)

Prospekt Gea, Intresting facts

Photo 1. Glacial erratic at Velo Snižno (Photo by M. Randić)

Glacial erratic at Velo Snižno (Veliko Snježno)

Erratics are large boulders that were transported by glaciers, often across many kilometres (sometimes tens of kilometres or even a hundred). They were deposited in their present position when the glaciers melted. Because these boulders were pulled free from distance rocks, we can often notice the difference in lithological composition between the boulders and the bedrock on which they were deposited by the glaciers. This fact can help us gain insight into bygone glaciers, for example, when estimating and reconstructing the length of a glacier, the direction in which it stretched, etc. In the broader region of mountains in the Rijeka hinterland we can find tens of Erratics like the one in the northwest corner of Velo Snižno.

 Marko Randić