10 Questions
What is an arête?
A sharp knife-edge ridge between two adjacent valleys filled with glacial ice
What creates a horn?
Three or more cirques carved out of a mountain
What is a hanging valley?
A valley hanging above the floor of the main valley due to glacial ice melting
What forms a lateral moraine?
Rock and debris fallen onto the glacier from valley walls
What is a medial moraine?
Created when two glaciers with lateral moraines merge
What marks the furthest point of glacial advance?
Terminal (End) Moraine
What forms a recessional moraine?
Forms during periods of glacial retreat
What does a terminal (end) moraine consist of?
Sediment and debris accumulated during the glacier's movement
What happens to lateral moraines as the glacier moves?
They are carried along and may be deposited at the glacier's edge
Where do waterfalls generally occur?
Where the hanging valley meets the main valley
Study Notes
Glacial Features
- An arête is a sharp-crested ridge formed by the convergence of two or more glaciers, which results in the erosion of the surrounding rock.
Mountain Peaks
- A horn is created by the erosion of three or more glaciers, which converge to form a sharp, peak-like feature.
Valleys
- A hanging valley is a valley that is higher than the main valley, formed when a tributary glacier flows into a larger glacier, which then carves out a deeper valley.
Moraines
- A lateral moraine is a ridge of rocks and debris that forms along the sides of a glacier, as a result of the accumulation of rocks and soil.
- A medial moraine is a ridge of rocks and debris that forms when two or more glaciers merge, and their lateral moraines combine.
- A terminal (end) moraine consists of a ridge of rocks and debris that marks the furthest point of glacial advance, and is formed when the glacier stops moving and deposits its load.
Glacial Movement
- As the glacier moves, lateral moraines are pushed forward and can merge with the terminal moraine.
- A recessional moraine is a series of ridges formed when a glacier retreats, leaving behind a series of deposits.
Waterfalls
- Waterfalls generally occur where a stream flows over a steep drop in the landscape, often at the point where a hanging valley meets the main valley.
Test your knowledge of glacial landforms with this quiz. Identify and learn about arêtes, horns, and hanging valleys that are formed as a result of glacial erosion and deposition.
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