Why are there huge piles of sand and gravel in some places?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why are there huge piles of sand and gravel in some places?

The Big Idea

In some places, there are huge piles of sand and gravel. Who put them there? Giant sheets of ice, long ago!

Ice Carriers

Step one: Ice Carriers. Long ago, in the Ice Age, glaciers carried sand, gravel, and boulders over great distances. The ice was like a slow conveyor belt.

Melting

Step two: Melting. When the ice melted, it dropped them in piles and ridges. Meltwater rivers also washed and sorted the sand and gravel.

Eskers

Step three: Eskers. Long winding ridges called eskers were made by rivers running inside the ice. Today, many of these deposits are dug out for roads and buildings.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Glaciers carried rock. Boulders were dropped. Sand was sorted by water. Eskers wind across the land.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Canada has some of the longest eskers in the world. Gravel from these piles helps build roads. Glaciers left big boulders in surprising places. Ice once covered most of Canada.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Put pebbles, sand, and soil in a jar of water. Close the lid tightly. Shake it, then set it down. Watch how they settle in layers. Which settled first?

Outro

Huge piles of sand and gravel were left by Ice Age glaciers that carried rock and dropped it as they melted. Meltwater rivers sorted it, and rivers inside the ice made winding eskers. Science is amazing! The world under your feet is full of surprises. Keep digging into big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!