Retreat of the last ice sheet from the maritime provinces, Gulf of St Lawrence Region

Abstract
The popular concept of overriding Laurentide ice (Labradorean sector) in the Maritime ProvincPs - Gulf of St. Lawrence region is examined in terms of regional ice-flow patterns and other supporting data - and is found wanting. Are interpretation of the data, the glacial lineations and other features presents a picture of localized, more or less radial outflow from certain upland and lowland areas. The pattern of ice-flow features and end moraines is shown to r e late to a rising sea level over the period from about 18, OOO to 11, OOO years B. P . The maritime climatic regime enabled various parts of an Appalachian ice complex to remain active as the sea encroached on the depressed land masses. The deeper-water parts of the submerged coast served as 'leads ' into the ice fronts, with consequent development of calving bays and ice drawdown. It is concluded that Laurentide ice was not as active over the Maritime Provinces as has generally been believed and that the growth of Appalachian glaciers during the build-up of the last continental ice sheet may have effectively barred Laurentide ice from some parts of the region. Laurentian Channel served as an outlet that diverted Laurentide ice through Cabot Strait to Atlantic Ocean, so that Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Is land do not show a pattern of Laurentide ice flow, and the Magdalen Islands remained unglaciated.

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