Glacier Terms

Front

What are kettle lakes?

Back

Kettle lakes are depressions formed as stranded ice blocks melt in till.

Front

What is an arete?

Back

An arete is a jagged ridge that forms on mountains as glaciers slide past.

Front

What are moraines?

Back

Moraines are unsorted deposits of sediment pushed to the side and ahead of an advancing glacier.

Front

What is till?

Back

Till is unsorted rock material (large and small rocks together) deposited directly by a glacier as it melts.

Front

What is a glacier?

Back

A glacier is a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, formed from compacted snow.

Front

What are erratics?

Back

Erratics are large boulders that have been transported and deposited by a glacier, often found in areas where the rock type differs from the local geology.

Front

What are eskers?

Back

Eskers are long, winding ridges of sand and gravel deposited by meltwater streams flowing beneath a glacier.

Front

What are U-shaped valleys?

Back

U-shaped valleys are formed by the erosion of glaciers, characterized by their wide, flat bottoms and steep sides.

Front

What are cirques?

Back

Cirques are bowl-shaped depressions carved by glaciers at the head of a valley.

Front

What are horns?

Back

Horns are sharp peaks formed when multiple glaciers erode a mountain from different sides.