“Formation of U-Shaped Valleys in Acadia . Acadia is full of U-shaped valleys. V-shaped valleys are usually the result of carving by streams or rivers. What has caused this U-shape in Acadia.

Formation of U-Shaped Valleys in Acadia

Acadia National Park, located in the US state of Maine, is home to many stunning U-shaped valleys. These valleys, also known as glacial troughs, are the result of glacial erosion. The glaciers that carved these valleys were created by the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which extended from roughly 25,000 to 8,000 years ago (Schaefer, 2017). Glaciers have a unique erosional method that creates U-shaped valleys. As the glacier moves over the terrain, it erodes the sides of the valley, as well as the bottom (Goudie, 2017). This means that the valleys become wider and deeper as the glacier moves. The glacier also carries abrasive material, such as rocks and sediment, which further erode the valley walls. As the glacier melts, it deposits this material into the valley, creating a characteristic U-shape. The Laurentide Ice Sheet was particularly effective at eroding the landscape of Acadia National Park. This is because it was thicker and longer lasting than most ice sheets (Schaefer, 2017). As a result, it had more time to erode the landscape and create the U-shaped valleys that are seen today. Cont…