📖 what
What is a hanging valley?
GeographyGlaciers
Quick Answer
A hanging valley is a side valley left perched above the main valley floor, often where a tributary stream plunges as a waterfall.
The Full Story
Hanging valleys are commonly formed by glaciers, which deepen the main valley more than the smaller tributary valleys. After the ice melts, the tributary stream may enter the main valley from high above, creating a waterfall. These features are common in formerly glaciated landscapes such as parts of Norway, New Zealand, and the Canadian Rockies. Hanging valleys are a classic sign that a valley was shaped by glaciation rather than by river erosion alone.
Key Facts
1.Hanging valleys often produce waterfalls
2.They are usually formed by glacial erosion
3.They are common in formerly glaciated mountain regions
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why some valleys seem to dangle over others"