What major geographical changes occurred during the time of Paleo people's arrival in North America?

Answer 1

During the time of Paleo people's arrival in North America, major geographical changes occurred as a result of the last Ice Age. Some of these changes include:

1. Glacial advance and retreat: The Ice Age was characterized by periods of glacial advance and retreat. As the ice sheets advanced southward, they carved out deep valleys and created large lakes. As the glaciers retreated, these lakes filled with meltwater, creating new bodies of water.

2. Formation of the Great Lakes: As the last glaciers retreated around 10,000 years ago, they left behind large depressions that eventually filled with water, forming the Great Lakes. These lakes, such as Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan, were not present during the time of the Paleo people's arrival.

3. Sea level rise: As glaciers melted, global sea levels rose. This resulted in the flooding of coastal areas and the creation of new shorelines. In North America, this would have impacted the geography along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, submerging low-lying areas and forming new estuaries and barrier islands.

4. Land bridge between Siberia and Alaska: One of the significant geographical changes occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum, around 26,000 to 19,000 years ago. The ice sheets at that time locked up a significant amount of water, causing global sea levels to drop, exposing a land bridge known as Beringia between Siberia and Alaska. This land bridge connected Asia and North America and provided a route for the Paleo people to migrate from Asia into the Americas.

These geographical changes significantly influenced the availability of resources, migration patterns, and settlement opportunities for the Paleo people in North America.