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How far did the Scandinavian Ice Sheet extend during major glacial periods?
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Pleistocene Epoch
Ice sheets during the Wisconsin glacial episode penetrated deep into North America.
During the Pleistocene Epoch, the Scandinavian Ice Sheet—also known as the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet—was the largest contiguous mass of ice in Eurasia. At its maximum extent, this massive glacial formation reached nearly to latitude 48° N.12
Geographically, the ice sheet originated in the Jostedalsbreen area of Norway and expanded significantly in all directions. Its reach included:1
- West: The British Isles.3
- South: Central Germany and Poland.1
- East: Extending nearly to Moscow and covering parts of north-central Siberia.13
At its peak, the ice sheet is estimated to have covered approximately 6,600,000 square km (2,500,000 square miles) and reached a thickness of up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet).12