hanging valley

geological feature

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

A hanging valley is a geological feature where a tributary valley is left at a higher elevation than the main valley after a glacier retreats. This occurs because larger valley glaciers have more erosive power than smaller tributary glaciers. As the main glacier carves deeper into the landscape, the tributary valleys remain at their original, higher level. When the ice melts, these valleys appear to hang above the main valley floor. In some cases, this difference in elevation can create waterfalls, as seen in places like Yosemite National Park.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

glacial valley
…tributary troughs are left as hanging valleys high on the walls of the main glacial valley. Postglacial streams may form waterfalls from the mouths of the hanging valleys, a well-known example being Yosemite Falls, California.
Read More
…tributary troughs are left as hanging valleys high on the walls of the main glacial valley. Postglacial streams may form waterfalls from the mouths of the hanging valleys, a well-known example being Yosemite Falls, California.
Read More

glacial landform
Hanging valleys
Large valley glacier systems consist of numerous cirques and smaller valley glaciers that feed ice into a large trunk glacier. Because of its greater ice discharge, the trunk glacier has greater erosive capability in its middle and lower reaches than smaller tributary glaciers…
Read More
Large valley glacier systems consist of numerous cirques and smaller valley glaciers that feed ice into a large trunk glacier. Because of its greater ice discharge, the trunk glacier has greater erosive capability in its middle and lower reaches than smaller tributary glaciers…
Read More

river
Falls attributable to discordance of river profile
…waterfalls are most common where hanging valleys occur. Such valleys generally form when glacier ice deeply erodes a main or trunk valley, leaving tributary valleys literally hanging far above the main valley floor. After the glaciers have melted and withdrawn, streams from such tributary valleys must fall in order to…
Read More
…waterfalls are most common where hanging valleys occur. Such valleys generally form when glacier ice deeply erodes a main or trunk valley, leaving tributary valleys literally hanging far above the main valley floor. After the glaciers have melted and withdrawn, streams from such tributary valleys must fall in order to…
Read More