How are lateral moraines different from end moraines?

Lateral moraines and end moraines are both accumulations of glacial debris, but they differ primarily in their location and formation process:

• End Moraines: These are linear accumulations of till formed immediately in front of or at the lower end (snout) of a glacier. They are created when a glacier pushes debris forward or deposits material at its outermost edge during a period of stability. When this occurs at the glacier's maximum extent, it is specifically referred to as a terminal moraine.12

• Lateral Moraines: These form along the valley slopes adjacent to the side margins of a glacier. They consist of debris derived from the valley walls through erosion and avalanche, which falls onto the edge of the ice and is deposited as an elongate ridge when the glacier eventually recedes.12

While end moraines mark the forward limit of ice movement, lateral moraines track the glacier's path along the valley sides.21