Stop #29: Glacial Grooves – Roque Bluffs

Location:
Roque Bluffs State Park, 7 miles south of Machias. Follow signs from Route 1; explore the public beach.

N 44°36’50” W 67°29’43”

Geology:
Glacial Grooving: The beach at Roque Bluffs State Park resulted from erosion of the prominent grounding-line moraine to the east with the sediments being transported to the west. Note the manmade “rip-rap” of boulders now protecting the seaward face of the moraine and houses atop the moraine from further erosion. A large, glacially shaped bedrock outcrop can be seen at the eastern end of the beach. This outcrop of ancient lava flows is being exposed by wave erosion and displays glacial striations and grooves indicating ice flow to the southeast.