Glacial Period
A glacial period is a extended phase in Earth's geological history marked by widespread ice sheets, colder temperatures, and significant reductions in sea levels. These intervals, part of larger ice age cycles, have driven major changes in landscapes, biodiversity, and human migration patterns. In today's climate discussions, they serve as key indicators for understanding potential future shifts due to global warming.
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During the last glacial period, which peaked around 20,000 years ago, woolly mammoths roamed Europe and North America alongside early humans, and the global ice volume was so vast that it locked away enough water to lower sea levels by about 120 meters, creating vast land bridges. This period's end, around 11,700 years ago, coincided with the rapid rise of agriculture and settled societies, potentially accelerated by the changing climate.
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