Question

In Norway, long U-shaped glacial valleys extend from the mountains to the coast. Near the coast the glacial valleys are called fjords and are flooded with sea water.

The illustration shows a cross-section of land that has water flowing from a mountainous terrain along a U-shaped valley with steep sides.

Which statement best describes the process that formed these features?


Glaciers formed the U-shaped valleys when the sea level was much higher.


Ocean waves eroded long channels into the coast when the sea level was higher, and then glaciers moved down the channels to form a U-shaped valley.


Glaciers formed the U-shaped valleys, and seawater flooded the valleys when the sea level rose.


Glaciers formed the U-shaped valleys, and the ocean melted the glaciers when the sea level was lower.

Answer 1

Correct answer: "Glaciers formed the U-shaped valleys, and seawater flooded the valleys when the sea level rose."

Explanation: Glaciers carve broad, U-shaped valleys as they flow downhill. When the glaciers melted and sea level rose, ocean water flooded the lower parts of those valleys, creating fjords. The other choices are incorrect because waves don't make U-shaped glacial valleys and sea-level changes do not "melt" glaciers in that manner.