Details

During the last ice age, Akimiski Island in the James Bay lay beneath vast glaciers that pressed down with immense force. As the climate changed and the ice retreated, Akimiski began a gradual rebound. The island's slow but steady increase in elevation is recorded along its naturally terraced edges in this false-color satellite image where the coastline seems etched with bathtub rings, the result of the rising landmass and wave action at previous sea levels. Image courtesy of USGS.