Valley glaciers

Valley glaciers are large, slow-moving rivers of ice that form in mountainous regions, occupying troughs or valleys carved out by ancient glaciers or natural erosion. They develop when snow accumulates over time, compresses into ice, and begins to flow downhill under gravity. These glaciers shape the landscape by carving deep valleys and creating features like sharp ridges and hanging valleys. They are dynamic, changing seasonally and over centuries, and play a vital role in Earth's freshwater systems. Valley glaciers are key indicators of climate change, as their advance or retreat reflects variations in temperature and precipitation.