A hanging valley is defined as which?

• A. A Valley Intersecting the Main Glacier Path That Discharges at a Higher Elevation Than the Main Glacier
• B. A Valley Formed by River Erosion
• C. A Valley Behind a Landslide
• D. A Valley at Sea Level

Answer: (A)

A hanging valley forms when a smaller glacier valley joins a larger glacier valley at a higher elevation, so after the ice retreats the tributary valley remains perched above the main valley floor. This is why the description that a valley intersects the main glacier path and discharges at a higher elevation than the main glacier fits best—the tributary valley meets the main valley up high, making the valley appear to “hang” above the lower main valley.

In contrast, a valley formed by river erosion is carved by flowing water after glaciation, not by the glacier geometry that creates a hanging appearance. A valley behind a landslide is produced by a mass-wasting event rather than glacial junctions, and a valley at sea level doesn’t address the glacial relationship that causes the hanging feature.