Upper Kananaskis River, Alberta

This photograph shows the formerly glaciated valley of the upper Kananaskis River. The U-shape is caused by glacial erosion along the bottom and sides of the former, stream-carved valley. The glacier-covered continental divide lies along the right (west side) of the view; below it is a tarn, or alpine lake, whose basin was carved by glacial ice. The knife-edged peaks and ridges along the higher elevations are known as arêtes and dominating the skyline is the pyramidal peak of Mt. Joffre. This latter feature is described as a horn and owes its origin to erosive action on all sides of the peak. The general elevation of these mountains is about 3000 metres. In all, this landscape is an example of glaciated, mountainous terrain.

Source: Geological Survey of Canada, photograph number 2001-302. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005 and courtesy of Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada.