Scientists discover 300-million-year-old hidden 'hotspot' that created the Great Lakes; where is it located now?

During the last ice age, glaciers sculpted these lowlands, and their meltwater later formed the Great Lakes. (Image: Canva)

The Great Lakes owe their origin to an ancient hotspot that existed beneath Pangaea 300 million years ago, researchers have revealed. This discovery sheds light on how Earth's geological history shaped one of the planet's most iconic freshwater systems.

Cape Verde Hotspot's Role in Shaping the Lakes

A study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests the Cape Verde hotspot, still active in the Central Atlantic, once influenced the Great Lakes region. The hotspot heated and stretched Earth's crust, creating a topographical depression millions of years ago. During the last ice age, glaciers sculpted these lowlands, and their meltwater later formed the Great Lakes.

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The Great Lakes now hold 21% of the world's freshwater. "The hotspot made the first imprint," said Aibing Li, seismologist at the University of Houston and co-author of the study. Hotspots, like those that formed Hawaii and Yellowstone, are plumes of molten material from Earth's mantle that interact with the crust, creating lasting geological features.

Seismic Clues and Ancient Plate Movements

Scientists identified peculiar seismic wave patterns beneath the Great Lakes, known as radial anisotropy. This phenomenon suggested past deformation of the lithosphere, Earth's crust and upper mantle. With the help of plate reconstruction models, researchers linked these anomalies to the Cape Verde hotspot.

A map displaying the suggested hotspot path in red. (Image: Adapted from Tao et al., 2024, CC BY 4.0)

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Between 300 million and 170 million years ago, this hotspot travelled beneath regions now known as Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie, leaving lasting effects. Researchers continue to investigate how hotspots might influence the formation of large lakes globally.

"This connection between lakes and hotspots could unlock mysteries," Li said, adding that such findings could reshape our understanding of Earth's geological past.