Look at Diagram Q1.
Explain the formation of a ribbon lake.
You may wish to use an annotated diagram or diagrams in your answer.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Look at Diagram Q1 - Scottish Highers Geography - Question 1 - 2023
Step 1
Glacier formation - 1 mark
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Answer
Ribbon lakes often form in areas where snow accumulates in north-facing hollows. When more snow falls in these areas than melts during the summer, the glacier gradually builds up.
Step 2
Process of glaciation - 1 mark
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Answer
As the glacier develops, it erodes the valley floor and sides through processes such as plucking, where ice freezes onto bedrock, and abrasion, where the glacier grinds against the underlying rocks.
Step 3
Fill from glacial action - 1 mark
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Answer
During periods of melting, water flows from the glacier, filling depressions in the landscape. The glacial erosion results in a U-shaped valley that contributes to the formation of the ribbon lake.
Step 4
Dam creation - 1 mark
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Answer
In some cases, a moraine left by the glacier might act as a dam at the terminus of the valley, leading to the accumulation of water and forming a ribbon lake.
Step 5
Final characteristics - 1 mark
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Answer
The result is a long, narrow lake, characteristic of ribbon lakes, typically found nestled between steep valley sides.
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