A U-Shaped Valley EarthCache
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How the Bow Valley Glacier Created a U-Shaped Valley
The U-shaped valley spreading out before you to the west of GZ is a result of a glacier erosion process that occurred between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago. As the glacier moved east from Lake Louise towards present day Calgary there were tremendous forces at work.
Material from both underneath and above the glacier became trapped within the glacier forming a ‘englacial moraine’. This trapped material provided the glacier with the abrasive ability to grind out the U-shaped valley you see today. The action of this englacial moraine is akin to the way a belt sander works, moving across the underlying surface and scraping away at it as it moves.
This scraping or ‘Abrasion’ creates the secondary effect of generating the materials that became depositional features such as the Drumlins you can find in the surrounding area. See
Drumlin Field of Morley Flats for an EarthCache covering their creation.
At GZ you will find an information sign regarding the creation of the Morley Flats. To log this cache please e-mail the following to the cache owner:
1. How thick was the glacial ice at this location 20,000 years ago?
2. What percentage of the present day mountains could be viewed from this location 20, 000 years ago?
3. Besides the Bow Valley, what other valley was dramatically affected by the Bow Valley glacial ice?
For more information on glacial erosion visit:
The Geography Site
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