V-Shaped valleys and Interlocking Spurs.

1. V-Shaped valleys and Interlocking Spurs.

2. V-Shaped Valleys • V- Shaped Valleys are found in the upper course of the river, where water flows quickly through a narrow channel with a steep gradient.

3. V-Shaped Valley formation. • The river erodes downwards (vertical erosion). Boulders, stones, rock particles are scraped along the channel bed, creating steep valley sides. • Over time, as the river cuts down, steep sides are attacked by weathering (breakdown of rocks, soils and minerals). This breaks up and loosens the soil and rock. • Gradually the loosened materials move down the valley sides creating the V-Shape • The river then transports the materials away. The end result is a steep sided valley that has the shape of a letter V.

4. The river cuts down and deepens its valley. The river widens its valley as it deepens it. The river continues to widen its valley.

5. Interlocking Spurs • Spurs are ridges of hard rock, which a river is forced to wind around as it passes downstream in the upper course as is cannot erode the hard rock. • Interlocking spurs are formed when the river is forced to swing side to side around the spurs of hard rock which interlock as you look at the river.