From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moraines on a side glacier of theGorner Glacier,Zermatt,Switzerland. Thelateral moraine is the high snow-free bank of debris in the top left hand quarter of the picture. Themedial moraine is the double line of debris running down the centre-line of the glacier.
Moraines are accumulations ofdebris that are found inregions where there areglaciers or were glaciers formerly.
Moraines which are found far off from existing glaciers were created during a pastice age. The debris may have been taken off the valley floor as a glacier moved or fallen off the valley walls as a result ofweathering. Moraines may be made ofsilt likeglacial flour to largeboulders. Moraines may be on the glacier’s surface or deposited as piles or sheets of debris where the glacier has melted. Moraines may also develop when a glacier oriceberg reaches the sea and melts, dropping rocks that it has carried.
