Glaciation

• Formation of glaciers

  1. Base of the glacier melted into the underlying rocks due to the heat caused by friction

  2. Meltwater froze again

  3. Glacier moved on and plucked chunks of rock out of the ground
• Plucking of rocks

  1. Plucked rocks became embedded in the base of the glacier

  2. As the glacier moved, the rocks abraded the rock surface they passed over
• Glaciated valley


  • Originally a V-shaped river valley
  • Became straightened and deepened by a glacier filling it, which changed it to look more U-shaped
• Examples of glaciated valleys

  • Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
  • Doolough Valley, Co. Mayo
• Glaciated valleys have a flat valley floor and very steep sides