Valley glaciers are currents of floating ice that is restrained within steep-walled channels, often developing the path of a classical river valley. The downwards erosive movement of the ice forms the channel into a large U shape, in contradiction to the precipitous V shape that is composed during the early stages of weathering by rivers. A U shape channel with a flat floor is a good indication of the last glaciation of a range.
Valley glaciers ordinarily begin life in either corries or ice coverings. Glacial ice moving downhill from either of these origins will imitate any current valleys or accessible routes, disintegrating and expanding them as it moves. Often various corrie icebergs will consolidate to feed a particular valley iceberg.
