Kettle Moraine is a glacial landscape containing many habitats. Woodlands, prairies, lakes, and wetlands can occur close together as elevation, soil, and drainage change. Its hills and hollows help explain why one walk can reveal so much variety.
Clues to look for
Kettles are depressions left when isolated blocks of glacial ice melted.
Moraines are accumulations of material deposited by glaciers.
Not every kettle holds water; some are dry, while others contain ponds or wetlands.
Did you know?
A hollow in the landscape may mark the former location of a buried block of ice. The ice disappeared, but the depression remained.
Living things to notice
Look for changes in vegetation as you move between ridges, slopes, and low places. The landform helps influence habitat, but does not determine every species you will see.
Try this on your next walk
On a trail with hills, compare a ridge with a low spot. Notice differences in shade, moisture, and plants. The John Muir photograph shows woodland within the Kettle Moraine landscape.
