Grade IX: Topographical Features of the Northern Mountains

A V-shaped valley is a narrow valley with steeply sloped sides that appear similar to the letter "V" from a cross-section. They are formed by strong streams, which over time have cut down into the rock through a process called downcutting. These valleys form in mountainous and/or highland areas with streams or rivers in their "youthful" stage. At this stage, streams flow rapidly down steep slopes.

A U - shaped valley is formed by erosion from glaciers

A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries.

Glacial landforms are landforms created by the action of glaciers. Most of today's glacial landforms were created by the movement of large ice sheets during the Quaternary glaciations

Glacial landforms are landforms created by the action of glaciers. Most of today's glacial landforms were created by the movement of large ice sheets during the Quaternary glaciations. Continental glaciers on the other hand are found in Antarctica and Greenland.

A horn results when glaciers erode three or more arêtes, usually forming a sharp-edged peak. Can you identify the horn in this picture?

An arête is a narrow ridge of rock which separates two valleys. It is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. Arêtes can also form when two glacial cirques erode headwards towards one another, although frequently this results in a saddle-shaped pass, called a col. 

A cirque is a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion.

Tarn, a small mountain lake, especially one set in a glaciated steep-walled amphitheater known as a cirque.

In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks. It may also be called a gap. Try an dfind an image of a col on the internet.

Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, volcanoes or valley shoulders that has accumulated through periodic rockfall from adjacent cliff faces.

A valley step is a prominent change in the longitudinal slope of a valley, mainly in trough valleys formed by glaciers. Typically, a valley formed by glaciers has a series of basins with intervening steps formed by the locally varying erosion depths of valley glaciers.