Last Glacial Maximum

The Last Glacial Maximum occurred between 26,000 and 20,000 years ago, with ice sheets covering much of Northern North America, Northern Europe, and Asia, causing a major expansion of deserts and a large drop in sea levels. The average global temperature was about 6°C (11°F) colder than today, with permanent summer ice covering about 8% of the Earth's surface and 25% of the land area. The formation of ice sheets in the southern hemisphere began around 33,000 years ago, with maximum coverage occurring between 26,500 and 20,000 years ago, followed by an abrupt rise in sea levels. Climates during the Last Glacial Maximum were cooler and almost everywhere drier, with some areas experiencing up to a 90% decrease in rainfall compared to the present day.learn more on wikipedia