Why are they called hanging valleys?

Hanging Valleys: Nature’s High-Flying Waterparks

Ever seen a waterfall cascading down a cliff face in some epic mountain landscape? Chances are, you were looking at a hanging valley. But have you ever stopped to wonder about that name? “Hanging” – it’s a bit of a head-scratcher, right? Well, the name actually gives the game away. These valleys really do look like they’re suspended in mid-air, and there’s a fascinating reason why.

Basically, a hanging valley is a smaller valley that joins a bigger one, but its floor is way up high, like a balcony overlooking a grand hall. Think of it as nature’s VIP section. This “hanging” appearance is what makes them so distinctive, and it’s all thanks to the awesome power of glaciers.

Now, picture this: during the Ice Age, massive glaciers were carving their way through mountains, like giant bulldozers. The main glaciers, being bigger and badder, carved deep, wide U-shaped valleys. But the smaller glaciers feeding into them? They just couldn’t keep up. They eroded their valleys, sure, but at a much slower pace.

So, when the ice finally melted and retreated (thank goodness for that!), you were left with this crazy situation: a deep main valley and smaller valleys hanging way above. It’s like the main glacier was saying, “I’m going all the way down!” while the smaller ones were like, “Nah, we’re good up here.” And that difference in elevation? That’s where those spectacular waterfalls come in. Seriously, Yosemite Falls? That’s a hanging valley in action!

Okay, so glaciers are the usual suspects, but sometimes hanging valleys can form even without them. Imagine a situation where a tributary valley is made of super-tough rock, while the main valley is made of something softer. Over time, the main valley erodes faster, leaving the tributary hanging high and dry. Mother Nature always has a trick up her sleeve, doesn’t she?

The term “hanging valley” has been around for a while, since the late 1800s, and it’s a pretty spot-on description, if you ask me. It’s a simple way to describe a valley that seems to be suspended above another, like a bridge to nowhere. And, they’re commonly associated with U-shaped valleys, where a tributary glacier flows into a glacier of larger volume.

You can find these hanging valleys all over the world, from the Sierra Nevada mountains in California to the European Alps and even down in New Zealand. Places like Yosemite, Glacier National Park, and Fiordland National Park are practically overflowing with them. They’re not just pretty to look at, though. They’re also like geological time capsules, giving us clues about past ice ages and how the Earth’s surface has changed over millennia. Pretty cool, huh?