Moraine ridges in the middle of a mire

There is a large De Geer -moraine field south of Häädetkeidas. It consist of series of shallow ridges that have formed in front of the retreating ice. The height of the ridges is just a few meters, but they can be several hundred meters long. Parallel ridges occur at an interdistance of 100 to 200 meters and they form large fields. Sometimes they have been described as washboard moraines.

De Geer -moraines form in the front of a calving glacier. Calving is a process where the front of a flowing glacier collapses to a water body, forming icebergs. This process creates an undulating movement in the apparent location of the front of the glacier. The front of the glacier acts as a giant bullzoser, piling till as ridges perpendicular to ice movement. Coupled with the undulation in the movement, this process creates a series of parallel ridges in the bottom front of the ice, as the ice retreats.

In Häädetkeidas area the hollows between De Geer -ridges have developed into mires. The moraine ridges prevent the formation of a uniform mire. Instead, a mosaic of mire and forested mineral lands is formed, creating a fascinating labyrinth landscape.