The information for the following story is from the following Internet sites accessed 06/01/03:
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/valleyfl.htm
http://www.zephryus.demon.co.uk/geography/resources/glaciers/ushape.html
http://www.nps.gov/olym/uv.htm

Words to Preview Annapolis Valley glaciers flood plains gradual fertile debris

 

Beautiful Valleys

In Nova Scotia, there is a beautiful place called Annapolis Valley. Many tourists come to visit throughout the year. The Annapolis Valley is known for farming because of its fertile soil. But, what is a valley?

A valley is an area of low land that has higher land on both sides of it. There are generally two types of valleys. There are V-shaped valleys and U-shaped valleys. Two things valleys always have in common are low land and being formed between hills or mountains. Valleys formed in the mountains are narrow and deep. Valleys formed in low areas have a gradual slope.

Valleys that are V-shaped are carved out of the Earth's sloping hills and mountains slowly by erosion, mostly by water from rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. The bottom of the valley, on dry land, is called the "floor." Valley floors usually slope downstream.

V-shaped valleys have wide, flat floors, that sometimes contain ribbon lakes. Ribbon lakes are long and narrow lakes found in valleys. Valleys formed in mountains usually have narrow "floors." Floors along riverbanks are called "flood plains." Valley walls or valley slopes are the names of the valleys' sides.