What significant geological period greatly shaped Michigan's landscape?

The Ice Age, particularly the Pleistocene Epoch, is indeed the geological period that significantly shaped Michigan's landscape. During this time, massive glaciers advanced and retreated across the region, profoundly influencing the topography and geology we see today.

The glaciers carved out the Great Lakes, created moraines, and formed features such as hills, valleys, and lakes. Their movement also contributed to the deposition of various sedimentary materials that formed the rich agricultural soil prevalent in many areas of Michigan. Additionally, the retreat of the glaciers shaped the landscape by leaving behind glacial deposits and influencing river systems.

While the Jurassic Period and the Holocene Epoch are important in their own right, they did not play as pivotal a role in shaping Michigan's landscape as the events occurring during the Ice Age and specifically the Pleistocene Epoch, which is marked by extensive glaciation.