A hanging valley is a tributary valley with the floor at a higher relief than the main channel into which it flows. They are most commonly associated with glacial valleys when a tributary glacier flows into a glacier of larger volume. The main glacier erodes a deep U-shaped valley with nearly vertical sides while the tributary glacier, with a smaller volume of ice, makes a shallower U-shaped valley. Since the surfaces of the glaciers were originally at the same elevation, the shallower valley appears to be ‘hanging’ above the main valley. Often, if water is flowing through the upper glacial valley, a waterfall will form. Download high resolution version (508x659, 79 KB)Image taken in May 2002 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (508x659, 79 KB)Image taken in May 2002 by Daniel Mayer. ... Yosemite redirects here. ... A tributary (or affluent or confluent) is a contributory stream, a river that does not reach the sea, but joins another major river (a parent river), to which it contributes its waters, swelling its discharge. ... A glaciated valley is one formed by the process of glaciation. ... Aletsch glacier, Switzerland A glacier is a large, long-lasting river of ice that is formed on land and moves in response to gravity. ...
Minor (tributary) valley that joins a larger glacial trough at a higher level than the trough floor.
During glaciation the ice in the smaller valley was unable to erode as deeply as the ice in the trough, and so the valley was left perched high on the side of the trough when the ice retreated.
A river or stream flowing along the hangingvalley often forms a waterfall as it enters the trough.
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