33 IGC excursion No 40, August 1 – 4,  2008

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Day by day itinerary

Day 1. South Varangerfjorden to Tana (Kirkenes - Polmak)

Day 1 gives an overview of the deglaciation history and postglacial relative sea-level change in the Varanger region, using localities along the southern side of Varangefjorden. The day starts at the Norwegian-Russian border near Kirkenes in the east, and ends at Varangerbotn at the head of the fjord in the west. It includes some classic localities showing raised beaches and delta terrace morphology (Brannsletta, Gandvik). Other localities show marginal moraines and glaciofluvial ice-front deposits (Høybuktmoen, Lun’kusnjarga, Brannsletta), deltaic achitecture and facies in raised terraces (Karlebotn), a modern fjord-delta (Neidenfjorden), and isolation-basin stratigraphy used to reconstruct relative sea-level change (Pikevatnet). A stop is also made at the boundary between two major bedrock provinces (Veines) to show the relationship between bedrock and landscape.

1. Pikevatnet
Raised coastal lake. Isolation basin stratigraphy. Postglacial relative sea-level change.

2. Høybuktmoen
Ice-contact delta graded to the marine limit.

3. Lun’kusnjarga (Junkersneset)
View of typical raised shorelines and end moraines.

4. Sandneset (Neiden delta)
View of the modern Neiden delta. Tidal regime and processes.

5. Ferdesmyra
Extensive palsa bog at the marine limit.

6. Brannsletta (south)
Moraine ridge at the ice-contact apex of a gravelly, glaciofluvial delta.

7. Brannsletta (north)
Postglacial shorelines and beach ridges on the distal slope of the Brannsletta delta.

8. Gandvik
Washing limit (marine limit). View of raised shorelines and terraces at Gandvik.

9. Nyelv
Raised deltaic terraces and shorelines at the mouth of Nyelv. Shoreline correlation.

10.Veiranjar’ga (Veines)
Bedrock and landscape. Precambrian sedimentary rocks.

11. Karlebotn
Glaciofluvial deltaic terrace and foresets. Erosive and depositional shorelines. Clayslide.

 

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Contents by Geoff Corner, adapted for web by Kjell T Svindland, updated 12 December, 2007 17:11 .