❓ why
Why do glaciers carve U-shaped valleys instead of V-shaped ones?
Quick Answer
Glaciers are thick, slow-moving ice masses that erode both the floor and sides of a valley. Rivers mostly cut downward, which makes V-shaped valleys instead.
The Full Story
A glacier fills a valley and acts like a giant moving file. As ice flows, it scrapes the valley floor and plucks rock from the sides, widening and deepening the channel. Rivers, by contrast, usually erode mainly downward, which produces narrow V-shaped valleys. After a glacier retreats, it leaves behind a broad U-shaped trough, hanging valleys, and often a lake. Yosemite Valley in California is a classic example of glacial shaping.
Key Facts
1.Glaciers erode valley floors and sides
2.Rivers usually carve V-shaped valleys
3.Yosemite Valley is a classic U-shaped valley
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why do glaciers carve valleys that look like giant U’s?"
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