Geomorphology

As the Laurentide glacier retreated from the Champlain Valley 13,600 years ago, the ice dammed the valley and Glacial Lake Vermont rose to about 170 m (550 feet) above sea level, which is the approximate elevation of the camera. This sand and gravel was carried by an ice-marginal river which built kame terraces until it reached the lake where it dumped fine sediments into the standing water. The sand and gravel formed a delta more than 4 km long in the area near Lower Plains Road and south of Beaver Pond Road.

Forest Community

There is no record of the forest that once grew on this surface in the town forest. To the south of the property where the surface is still intact, a forest of oaks, red maple, and beech is present. North of the property where groundwater wets the soil, sugar maple and hemlock are common. On the surface of this delta west of Halnon Brook the water table is deep, and an unusual dry forest with pitch pine is present. 

Maybe someone in town remembers what kind of trees were logged from the property when the landfill was established.

GigaPan

This panorama is made from 336 images taken on October 15, 2009. It covers a field of view of 126 degrees.