Shaped by Water

Shaped by Water. . , Once this land flourished under the waves of a warm, shallow sea. Then it lay frozen under the weight of thick, glacial ice. After millions of years, it emerged as a gem to be treasured., 1 Bathed with Warm Waves , Around 420 million years ago, Wisconsin based south of the equator covered by a shallow sea teeming with life. Sediment and the remains of marine mammals collected on the bottom of the sea, eventually forming hard dolomite rock., 2 Shifted and Shook Up , For millions of years, continental plates moved, volcanoes erupted, and oceans swirled. Since the land was constantly being eroded, we can find little evidence from this time. By 70 million years ago, the world as we know it was taking shape., 3 Crushed by Ice , Beginning 2.5 million years ago, glaciers from Canada advanced and retreated across much of the northern United States. They moved slowly, scarping off high places, filling in low places and reshaping the land., Between 31,500 and 10,000 years ago, the fast glacier plowed into Door County. When it encountered the ancient dolomite rock - the Niagara Escarpment – it split in two, exposing the hard rock as it advanced. The glacier’s western lobe scooped out Green Bay. The eastern lobe helped to form the Lake Michigan basin., Spotter's Guide , You can find evidence dating back millions of years if you know where to look. , Fossil Evidence , Check the rocks along the cliffs and beach for corals, brachiopods, crinoids, gastropods, and other marine animals that lived 420 million years ago. , , Stranded Caves , As the glaciers melted, lake levels rose much higher than they are today. The power of the flowing meltwater carved out caves that are now "stranded" above the water., Glacial Survivors , When you hike to Eagle Terrace, you are walking on the Niagara Escarpment. Reach down and touch. some really old rocks that stood their ground! , 500-year-old Trees , The trees growing on the cliffs are scrawny, misshapen, and old. Lumberjacks had no interest in them. Farmers allowed them to grow. The cliffs continue to protect them from lightning and fires. Along with rare snails and fragile ferns, they cling to life on the edge.