SAQ : Describe the formation of any three features produced by glacial erosion

Question

Describe the formation of any three features produced by glacial erosion.

Answer

Here are three features produced by glacial erosion and their formation:

1. Cirques: A cirque is a steep-walled hollow or basin found at the head of a glacial valley. It is formed when a glacier moves downslope and excavates the rock beneath it through plucking and abrasion. Over time, the glacier erodes the rock more deeply than the surrounding areas, resulting in a deep, bowl-shaped depression.
2. U-shaped valley: U-shaped valleys are formed when a glacier moves down a pre-existing V-shaped valley, which it then widens and deepens through the process of glacial erosion. The glacier removes the softer rock more easily than the harder rock, creating a U-shaped valley with steep, straight sides.
3. Fjords: A fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep cliffs created by glacial erosion. Fjords are formed when a glacier moves down a U-shaped valley and extends beyond the coastline into the ocean. As the glacier retreats, seawater floods the valley, creating a fjord. The steep walls of the fjord are a result of the glacier’s erosion of the surrounding rock.