Lauhankangas paleobeaches

Although Lauhanvuori is one of the highest peaks in Western Finland, its slopes are full of beach formations. When the continental glacier retreated from the area 10,500 years ago, the area was covered by the predecessor of the Baltic Sea, Lake Ancylus. When the continental glacier melted, a huge mass was removed, and the land began to rise. This phenomenon, known as land uplift, raises the earth's surface even today by about a meter per century.

The land uplift after the Ice Age was very strong in its early stages. However, the development of the Baltic Sea also affected the level of the water surface. At times, the sea level rose at the same rate as the land. During these times, the beach on Lauhanvuori remained stationary for longer periods of time. One of these stages formed a clear five-meter-high beach terrace. This goes around the entire Lauhanvuori and is most visible on the western slope along the Terassikierros trail.

Sand dunes can be found all around Lauhanvuori. The best examples are around Kaivolammi and east of Lauhanvuori. The dunes tell of the windy beaches of the island that was in the middle of the open water.