| The main signature of a glacial valley is its U-shaped character. Look at
the image above and notice the classic glacial characteristics. Then look
at the image below. Both images are of the same valley...the Chiwawa Valley
in the Cascades.At one time the hanging valleys were feeding the main glacier
in the large valley. After awhile, they were cut off with the retreat of
the main glacier and ...quite literally..."left hanging." Sometimes
these are the source for beautiful waterfalls. The ends of these valleys
were cut off where they met the main valley (or trunk) glacier. This cutting
off forms what is termed a truncated spur. Truncated Spurs are points of
land that jut out into the lower end of the hanging valley. |
