Features of a Glacial Meltwater

Esker

• An esker is a long, winding ridge of gravel or sand. For example the trim esker system, county Meath.

Formation

1. As the ice melts, large tunnels of meltwater flow in tunnels underneath the ice.
2. When a river leaves an ice tunnel, it slows down straight away and deposits material at the mouth of the ice tunnel.
3. As the ice slowly melts back, the deposited material is dropped in the form of a long, narrow ridge of sand and gravel.

Outwash Plain

• An outwash plain is a flat area of sand and gravel, found in front of a terminal moraine.

Formation

1. As the ice sheet melts, big amounts of meltwater flow out of it.
2. The water flushes huge quantities of sand and gravel onto the lowland beyond the front of the ice.
3. As the meltwater loses energy, it deposits the heaviest material first, followed by the lighter material.

• Example: The Curragh, County Kildare.