A cryptodepression is a
depression in the Earth's surface that is below
mean sea level, and which is filled by a
lake.[1][2] The term is derived from the
Ancient Greek word κρύπτoς ('hidden') and depression.
Lakes are often long and narrow. Further, the surrounding landscape and the shore of the lake can be very steep.[4]
Examples
Simple calculation example:
Lago O'Higgins/San Martín
Surface elevation 250 m -
Maximal depth 836 m =
_________________________________
Cryptodepression -586 m
Glacial lakes and moraine-dammed lakes: major prealpine lakes in Italy have cryptodepressions created by
erosion. In other parts of the
Alps, Swiss, Bavarian and Austrian lakes, cryptodepressions are not found because the lakes have significantly higher elevations. Glacial lakes creating cryptodepressions also occur in Norway, Chile, Argentina, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and Scotland. In North America, four of the five
Great Lakes (all except
Erie) and two of the Finger Lakes in New York,
Cayuga Lake and
Seneca Lake, are examples of cryptodepressions.
Mälaren in Sweden was created by a different process; it had been an arm of the Baltic Sea as recently as the
Viking Age before being cut off from the sea by post-glacial rebound.
^Neuendorf, K.K.E.; Mehl, Jr., J.P.; Jackson, J.A. (2005). Glossary of Geology (5th edition). Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute. p. 155.
^
abFairbridge, R. W. (1968),
"Cryptodepressions", in Fairbridge, R.W. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Earth Science, vol. Geomorphology, Berlin: Springer, archived from
the original on 12 October 2013, retrieved 11 October 2013
A cryptodepression is a
depression in the Earth's surface that is below
mean sea level, and which is filled by a
lake.[1][2] The term is derived from the
Ancient Greek word κρύπτoς ('hidden') and depression.
Lakes are often long and narrow. Further, the surrounding landscape and the shore of the lake can be very steep.[4]
Examples
Simple calculation example:
Lago O'Higgins/San Martín
Surface elevation 250 m -
Maximal depth 836 m =
_________________________________
Cryptodepression -586 m
Glacial lakes and moraine-dammed lakes: major prealpine lakes in Italy have cryptodepressions created by
erosion. In other parts of the
Alps, Swiss, Bavarian and Austrian lakes, cryptodepressions are not found because the lakes have significantly higher elevations. Glacial lakes creating cryptodepressions also occur in Norway, Chile, Argentina, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and Scotland. In North America, four of the five
Great Lakes (all except
Erie) and two of the Finger Lakes in New York,
Cayuga Lake and
Seneca Lake, are examples of cryptodepressions.
Mälaren in Sweden was created by a different process; it had been an arm of the Baltic Sea as recently as the
Viking Age before being cut off from the sea by post-glacial rebound.
^Neuendorf, K.K.E.; Mehl, Jr., J.P.; Jackson, J.A. (2005). Glossary of Geology (5th edition). Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute. p. 155.
^
abFairbridge, R. W. (1968),
"Cryptodepressions", in Fairbridge, R.W. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Earth Science, vol. Geomorphology, Berlin: Springer, archived from
the original on 12 October 2013, retrieved 11 October 2013