Glacial landforms

Rushikesh Dudhat
• Remember you should just have
overview of these topics
• PLEISTOCENE was period of ICE
AGE on earth.
• When frozen Ice move down from
ice caps ( snow covered mountain)
it is known as ice cap.
• ICE CAPS and GLACIERS are largest
source of fresh water on earth.
• Highest mountains on earth will
have ice caps.
e.g. HIMALAYAS
MT. KILIMANJARO

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• Glacialtion gives rise to EROSIONAL
features in highlands and
DEPOSITIONAL features in lowlands.
• Major features are
• 1. CORRIE , CWM or CIRQUE:- a steep
horse-shoe shaped basin.
• 2. Bergschrund :- Deep cracks at head
of glacier. They are major obstacle to
climbers.
• 3. CREVASSES :- cracks develop down at
the bend.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
• 4. ARETES :- when two corrie Pyramidal Peak

cut back on opposite

direction, sharp edge is
formed between them called Cirque
aretes.

Aretes
• 5. PYRAMIDAL PEAK :- The
peak in glaciated region is
sharp. It is known as
pyramidal peak. Formed when
three of more cirques cut
back.
• Eg: mount Everest
GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
• 6. U – Shaped valley:
Glacial valleys are
flat, steep and wide
having characteristic
U shape. As glacier
can erode mountains
instead of
interlocked spurs ,
there are Truncated
Spurs.
• After melting of
glaciers, RIBBON or
FINGER lakes may
develop.
GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
• 7. Hanging Valley :- As main glacier is large it erodes the main valley
deeper compared to tributary glaciers. This gives rise to hanging valleys.

Hanging valleys are very

good sites of natural
waterfall and therefore for
generating hydroelectricity.
e.g.
• NORWAY
• GREAT LAKES OF
NORTH AMERICA

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 Famous for Iron
Ore.
Niagara Falls

Lies entirely
in USA

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• 8. MORAINES : made
up of sediments or
pieces of rocks broken
by glaciers.

• 9. ROCHE MOUNTAIN
& CRAG and TAIL :-
These are mountains
found in lowlands of
glaciation. They are
formed due to both
erosion and
deposition.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• Roche mountain is residual
rock hummock. Its upstream
side is smooth by abrasion and
downstream side is rough by
plucking. It resembles sheep
skin.
• Crag is a mass of hard rock.
Has steep slope on upstream
side while the leeward side is
gentle.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• ERRATICS: Boulders of varying sizes that were
transported by ice. They are composed of
materials entirely different from those of a region
in which they are found. Also known as PERCHED
BLOCKS.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• 10. DRUMLINS :-
Low hills
occurring in
groups made up
of boulder clay
generally
occurring in
groups. Known as
Basket of Eggs
topography.
• Oval whale-
back
appearance.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 • MORAINES
Glacial Debris

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 BASKET OF EGGS TOPOGRAPHY

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• 11. ESKERS :- Long, narrow, meandering or sinuous ridges are known as
Eskers.
.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• 12. FIORD COAST :-
It is a type of coast
found in Higher
latitudes of
temperate regions.
WHY? Because they
are submerged U-
shaped glacial
trough. Found in
regions which were
once glaciated.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

WATER

Not good for

LAND Navigation and such
coast have backdrop
of high mountains.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

• Q 1. Fiords are found in which of
following countries? • Q2. Which of following
1. USA
landforms are not associated
with glaciers?
2. CANADA
1. U shaped valley
3. FINLAND
4. NORWAY 2. Drumlins
5. CHILE 3. Moraines
6. SOUTH AFRICA 4. Interlocked Spurs
7. AUSTRALIA 5. V – Shaped valley
8. NEW ZEALAND.
Answer : 4 & 5 only.
ANSWER : 1, 2 ,3 4, 5 & 8.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

DESERT LANDFORMS
• DEFLATION HOLLOWS:
• Formed due to erosional action
of the wind

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

MUSHROOM ROCK or ROCK PEDESTAL

• ROCKS are eroded from all the

Sides only from the base
• Also known as GAUR in Sahara

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
YARDANGS
• When alternate band of hard and
soft rocks are found in VERTICAL
manner.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

ZUEGENS

• When alternate band of hard and

soft rocks are found in
HORIZONTAL Manner

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 • Mesa is a mass of hard rock
which protects the lower
rocks (soft) rocks in getting
eroded.

• Mesas & Buttes are

separated by canyons
• Buttes are smaller than
mesas

MESAS & BUTTES

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
Ventifacts and
Dreikanter
THE STONES FACETS SHAPED BY
WINDS ARE KNOWN AS
VENTIFACT AND DREIKANTER

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 SAND DUNES
• SEIFS : LONGITUDINAL DUNES.

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT

 • Transverse Cresentic dunes
which form perpendicular to
wind direction
• Live dunes

BARCHANS
GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT
Star Shaped Dunes
• When wind flows from all sides

GLACIAL LANDFORMS by RUSHIKESH DUDHAT