Question
Describe the formation of any three features produced by glacial erosion.
Answer
Here are three features produced by glacial erosion and their formation:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
