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3.3.1.5 Hanging Valley

Hanging valleys occur in areas where glacial tributaries meet. Because the deepening and widening of the main valley proceeds more rapidly than in the tributaries, the valley floor of the tributary or hanging valley will become much higher than the main valley at the junction, which often creates a terrace with waterfalls at the connection to the main valley.


Images
(glacier)
(glacier)
Zumberge, J. H. and C. A. Nelson.
Elements of Physical Geology.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1976.
(glacier)  (glacier)  (glacier)  Bridalveil Fall (620ft) a typical hanging valley waterfall. Yosemite National Park, CA.  Fjord, hanging valley cirque. 

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