Deglaciation pattern and ice-dammed lakes along the Saariselkä mountain range in northeastern Finland

Traces of ice-dammed lakes are found along the southern part of the Saariselkä mountain range. Various shore marks, outlet channels and fine-grained sediments are indications of open water. The shallow basins were more or less filled by dead ice. At the beginning of deglaciation the meltwaters discharged over the mountain ridge to the north. As the ice margin receded toward the southwest new outlets were opened and the meltwaters discharged to the east and southeast. The ice-dammed lakes existed and the deglaciation took place during the period 9,500-9,300 B.P. The annual rate of retreat of the ice margin averaged 130–170 m per year.