Name one feature formed by glacial erosion and explain, with the aid of a labelled diagram, how it was formed. - Junior Cycle Geography - Question i - 2011

A labelled diagram should illustrate a U-shaped valley, showing its characteristic features such as steep sides and a broad floor, indicating the path of the glacier.

U-shaped valleys are formed by the action of glaciers moving through mountainous regions. The ice erodes the rock beneath it through processes such as abrasion and plucking. As the glacier advances, it carves out a U-shape due to its immense weight and the freezing and thawing of waters that aid in the erosion process.

As the glacier retreats, it leaves behind a U-shaped valley, characterized by its flat bottom and steep walls. This shape is in stark contrast to a river valley, which tends to have a V-shape formed by the erosive action of running water. The erosion continues even after the glacier has melted, thus further shaping the landscape.