Existing comment:
The Power of Glaciers:
Following the ancient river channel, a series of glaciers shaped this canyon. When the glaciers melted, they left behind piles of rocks that had been plucked from the cliff walls and carried along in the river of ice. These piles are called moraines. The moraine left behind following the most recent glacial activity dammed the Merced River near Bridalveil Fall. As the glacier melted, a shallow lake formed which eventually filled in with small rocks and sediment. This accounts for the flat valley floor we see today. |