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1. Glacial Erosion: Glaciers are powerful agents of erosion. As they move across the land, they scour and scrape the surface, creating valleys, fjords, cirques, and other landforms. For example, the Great Lakes were formed by glacial erosion, as glaciers carved out deep basins in the Earth's crust.
2. Glacial Deposition: When glaciers melt, they deposit the sediment and rocks that they have been carrying. This sediment can form moraines, drumlins, eskers, and other landforms. For example, the moraine that marks the southern edge of the Laurentide Ice Sheet can be seen in the topography of the Great Plains.
3. Glacial Rebound: As glaciers melt, the weight of the ice is removed from the Earth's crust. This causes the crust to rebound, which can lead to the formation of raised beaches, strandlines, and other coastal features. For example, the Hudson Bay Lowlands were formed by glacial rebound after the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted.
4. Glacial Diversion of Rivers: Glaciers can block the flow of rivers, forcing them to find new courses. For example, the Mississippi River was diverted from its original course by the Wisconsin Glacier, which created the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.
5. Glacial Periglacial Processes: The cold climate around glaciers gives rise to periglacial processes that includes frost action, nivation, and solifluction, these processes can create patterned ground, pingos, and other landform
6. Glacial Sedimentation: Glaciers transport and deposit large amounts of sediment, including sand, gravel, and boulders. This sediment can form moraines, outwash plains and deltas. The outwash deposits associated with the Laurentide Ice Sheet cover large areas of the midwestern United States.
The physical features of North America that were created by glaciers are a testament to the power of these massive ice sheets. These features continue to shape the landscape and play a vital role in the region's ecology and economy.