Arêtes

An arête is a sharp, knife-edged ridge of rock that forms between two glacial valleys or cirques through erosion. When glaciers cut into mountain sides from opposite directions, they carve out steep walls and leave behind a narrow, elongated ridge with steep sides. Think of it like a thin, elevated crest resembling the edge of a knife. Arêtes are common features in high mountain landscapes and showcase the powerful erosive action of glaciers shaping the terrain over thousands of years.