6Glaciers Are Powerful Forces of Erosion
Glaciers are one of nature’s most powerful agents of erosion. As they move, glaciers pick up rocks and debris, which become embedded in the ice. These rocks act like sandpaper, grinding down the land beneath the glacier. This process, called glacial abrasion, can carve out deep valleys, create jagged mountain peaks, and form glacial lakes.
One of the most famous examples of glacial erosion is Yosemite Valley in California, which was shaped by glaciers during the last Ice Age. The U-shaped valley and sheer granite cliffs are the result of millions of years of glacial movement.
