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Glacial erratic boulders of Estonia are large boulders of rock which have been formed and moved into Estonia by glacial action during previous ice ages. Before the Soviet occupation of Estonia, these large boulders were a symbol of national identity. They are now registered and protected by the Estonian government.
Glacial erratic boulders are found in especially large quantities in Estonia. Most of the boulders greater than in circumference found in northern Europe are in Estonia, which has 62 known boulders of this size. Some particular large ones have been found in the sea, including some near Osmussaar that are diameter. The Osmussaar boulders are believed to have been pushed there by glaciers from the Neugrund meteorite crater.Anto Raukos, "Evolution of the theory of continental glaciation in northern and eastern Europe" in R. H. Grapes, D. R. Oldroyd, A. Grigelis (eds), ''History of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology'', pp. 79-86, Geological Society of London, 2008 .
The Estonian boulders were important in the development of the idea that northern Europe was once covered in glaciers. The first to suggest that the boulders were moved by glaciers was Russian mineralogist
Glacial erratic boulders of Estonia are large boulders of rock which have been formed and moved into Estonia by glacial action during previous ice ages. Before the Soviet occupation of Estonia, these large boulders were a symbol of national identity. They are now registered and protected by the Estonian government.
Glacial erratic boulders are found in especially large quantities in Estonia. Most of the boulders greater than in circumference found in northern Europe are in Estonia, which has 62 known boulders of this size. Some particular large ones have been found in the sea, including some near Osmussaar that are diameter. The Osmussaar boulders are believed to have been pushed there by glaciers from the Neugrund meteorite crater.Anto Raukos, "Evolution of the theory of continental glaciation in northern and eastern Europe" in R. H. Grapes, D. R. Oldroyd, A. Grigelis (eds), ''History of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology'', pp. 79-86, Geological Society of London, 2008 .
The Estonian boulders were important in the development of the idea that northern Europe was once covered in glaciers. The first to suggest that the boulders were moved by glaciers was Russian mineralogist Vasily Severgin
Vasily Mikhailovich Severgin (russian: Василий Михайлович Севергин) (19 September 1765 – 29 November 1826) was a Russian academician, chemist, mineralogist, and geologist. For three decades, he was the only academician el ...
who was led to this conclusion by their similarity to Finnish basement rock
In geology, basement and crystalline basement are crystalline rocks lying above the mantle and beneath all other rocks and sediments. They are sometimes exposed at the surface, but often they are buried under miles of rock and sediment. The baseme ...
at the very early date of 1815. However, Severgin was later to retract this theory in favour of the drift theory of Charles Lyell
Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet, (14 November 1797 – 22 February 1875) was a Scottish geologist who demonstrated the power of known natural causes in explaining the earth's history. He is best known as the author of ''Principles of Geolo ...
who believed they had been carried by icebergs. However, in the following years of the 19th century the glaciation theory slowly gained the ascendancy.
List of boulders
References
Geology of Estonia Glacial erratic boulders {{Estonia-stub