How a Fjord Forms A fjord is a U-shaped valley found under the sea. They were formed when the glacier retreated after carving out a U-shaped valley. As the sea level rose, the U-shaped valley ended up under water.
Example: An example can be seen at Killary Harbour, Co. Mayo.
6. How a fjord forms Feature: Cirques (Corries)
Cirques are also called corries. They are known as the birthplace of a glacier and are found high up in the mountains. A cirque has three steep sides and may contain a lake.
How a Cirque Forms
Rock weakened by freeze-thaw weathering
Valley bottom before glaciation
Glacier Sea movement
Present bottom of the fjord
Plucking Abrasion
1 Snow collects in a mountain hollow high up in the mountain. With repeated snowfalls, the snow compacts to form ice. A glacier is born.
2 Through plucking and abrasion, the hollow grows deeper. Freeze-thaw action is also at work here. (Look back at Chapter 8 to remind yourself what freeze-thaw action is.)
Glacier moving out of cirque
Tarn
3 When the glacier is big enough, it begins to flow over the edge of the cirque. It then begins its journey.
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4 When the glacier melts, a lake called a tarn may be trapped in the cirque hollow.