Pyramidal peak: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Cirques mountainmass en.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Cross-section of cirque erosion over time]] | [[File:Cirques mountainmass en.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Cross-section of cirque erosion over time]] | ||
[[File:Kinnerly Peak.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kinnerly Peak]] in [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]] in the U.S. state of [[Montana]]|alt=]] | [[File:Kinnerly Peak.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kinnerly Peak]] in [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]] in the U.S. state of [[Montana]]|alt=]] | ||
[[Glacier]]s, typically forming in drainages on the sides of a mountain, develop bowl-shaped [[depression (geology)|basins]] called [[cirque]]s (sometimes called 'corries' – from [[Scottish Gaelic]] {{lang|gd|coire}} [kʰəɾə] (a bowl) – or {{lang|cy|cwm}}s). Cirque glaciers have rotational sliding that abrades the floor of the basin more than walls and that causes the bowl shape to form. As cirques are formed by glaciation in an alpine environment, the [[headwall]] and ridges between parallel glaciers called [[arête]]s become more steep and defined. This occurs due to [[Frost wedging|freeze/thaw]] and mass wasting beneath the ice surface. It is widely held{{by whom|date=November 2012}} that a common cause for headwall steepening and extension headward is the [[crevasse]]s known as [[bergschrund]] that occur between the moving ice and the headwall. [[Plucking (glaciation)|Plucking]] and shattering can be seen here by those exploring the crevasses. A cirque is exposed when the glacier that created it recedes.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} | [[Glacier]]s, typically forming in drainages on the sides of a mountain, develop bowl-shaped [[depression (geology)|basins]] called [[cirque]]s (sometimes called 'corries' – from [[Scottish Gaelic]] {{lang|gd|coire}} {{IPA|[kʰəɾə]}} (a bowl) – or {{lang|cy|cwm}}s). Cirque glaciers have rotational sliding that abrades the floor of the basin more than walls and that causes the bowl shape to form. As cirques are formed by glaciation in an alpine environment, the [[headwall]] and ridges between parallel glaciers called [[arête]]s become more steep and defined. This occurs due to [[Frost wedging|freeze/thaw]] and mass wasting beneath the ice surface. It is widely held{{by whom|date=November 2012}} that a common cause for headwall steepening and extension headward is the [[crevasse]]s known as [[bergschrund]] that occur between the moving ice and the headwall. [[Plucking (glaciation)|Plucking]] and shattering can be seen here by those exploring the crevasses. A cirque is exposed when the glacier that created it recedes.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} | ||
When three or more of these cirques converge on a central point, they create a pyramid-shaped peak with steep walls. These horns are a common shape for mountain tops in highly glaciated areas. The number of faces of a horn depends on the number of cirques involved in the formation of the peak: three to four is most common. Horns with more than four faces include the [[Weissmies]] and the [[Mönch]].<ref name="embleton">{{cite book | first1=Clifford | title=Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology | publisher=St. Martin's Press | last2=King | first2=Cuchlaine A. | last1=Embleton | author-link1 = Clifford Embleton| author-link2 = Cuchlaine King| lccn=68-20348 | year=1968 | location=New York | page=193}}</ref> A peak with four symmetrical faces is called a ''Matterhorn'' (after the [[Matterhorn]], a mountain in the Alps).<ref>{{cite web | url= | When three or more of these cirques converge on a central point, they create a pyramid-shaped peak with steep walls. These horns are a common shape for mountain tops in highly glaciated areas. The number of faces of a horn depends on the number of cirques involved in the formation of the peak: three to four is most common. Horns with more than four faces include the [[Weissmies]] and the [[Mönch]].<ref name="embleton">{{cite book | first1=Clifford | title=Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology | publisher=St. Martin's Press | last2=King | first2=Cuchlaine A. | last1=Embleton | author-link1 = Clifford Embleton| author-link2 = Cuchlaine King| lccn=68-20348 | year=1968 | location=New York | page=193}}</ref> A peak with four symmetrical faces is called a ''Matterhorn'' (after the [[Matterhorn]], a mountain in the Alps).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1216/text.html#h | title=Glossary of Glacier Terminology | publisher=[[US Geological Survey]] | access-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> | ||
The peak of a glacial horn will often outlast the arêtes on its flanks.<ref name="embleton" /> As the rock around it erodes, the horn gains in prominence. Eventually, a glacial horn will have near vertical faces on all sides.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} In the [[Alps]], "horn" is also the name of very exposed peaks with slope inclinations of | The peak of a glacial horn will often outlast the arêtes on its flanks.<ref name="embleton" /> As the rock around it erodes, the horn gains in prominence. Eventually, a glacial horn will have near vertical faces on all sides.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} In the [[Alps]], "horn" is also the name of very exposed peaks with slope inclinations of 45–60° (e.g. [[Kitzbüheler Horn]]).{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} | ||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
Latest revision as of 18:50, 3 November 2025
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A pyramidal peak, sometimes called a glacial horn in extreme cases, is an angular, sharply pointed mountain peak which results from the cirque erosion due to multiple glaciers diverging from a central point. Pyramidal peaks are often examples of nunataks.
Formation
Glaciers, typically forming in drainages on the sides of a mountain, develop bowl-shaped basins called cirques (sometimes called 'corries' – from Scottish Gaelic Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA". (a bowl) – or Script error: No such module "Lang".s). Cirque glaciers have rotational sliding that abrades the floor of the basin more than walls and that causes the bowl shape to form. As cirques are formed by glaciation in an alpine environment, the headwall and ridges between parallel glaciers called arêtes become more steep and defined. This occurs due to freeze/thaw and mass wasting beneath the ice surface. It is widely heldScript error: No such module "Unsubst". that a common cause for headwall steepening and extension headward is the crevasses known as bergschrund that occur between the moving ice and the headwall. Plucking and shattering can be seen here by those exploring the crevasses. A cirque is exposed when the glacier that created it recedes.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
When three or more of these cirques converge on a central point, they create a pyramid-shaped peak with steep walls. These horns are a common shape for mountain tops in highly glaciated areas. The number of faces of a horn depends on the number of cirques involved in the formation of the peak: three to four is most common. Horns with more than four faces include the Weissmies and the Mönch.[1] A peak with four symmetrical faces is called a Matterhorn (after the Matterhorn, a mountain in the Alps).[2]
The peak of a glacial horn will often outlast the arêtes on its flanks.[1] As the rock around it erodes, the horn gains in prominence. Eventually, a glacial horn will have near vertical faces on all sides.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In the Alps, "horn" is also the name of very exposed peaks with slope inclinations of 45–60° (e.g. Kitzbüheler Horn).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Examples
- Alpamayo in Ancash, Peru
- Artesonraju in Ancash, Peru
- Belalakaya, Greater Caucasus, Russia
- Crowsnest Mountain in Alberta, Canada
- Errigal in County Donegal, Ireland
- Fitz Roy in Patagonia, South America
- Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
- Ice Peak in British Columbia, Canada
- K2 in China and Pakistan
- Makalu in Nepal and China
- Mount Gongga in Sichuan, China
- Kamenitsa, Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria
- Ketil in Greenland
- Khan Tengri in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China
- Kinnerly Peak in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States
- The Kitzsteinhorn in Salzburg, Austria
- The Matterhorn in Italy and Switzerland
- Momin Dvor, Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria
- Mount Aspiring/Tititea in Otago, New Zealand
- Mount Assiniboine in British Columbia, Canada
- Mount Thielsen in Oregon, United States
- Mount Wilbur in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States
- Nevado Las Agujas in Los Ríos, Chile
- Nevado Pirámide in Peru
- Pilot Peak in Wyoming, United States
- Puy Mary in Cantal, France
- Pyramiden in Greenland
- Reynolds Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States
- Shivling in Uttarakhand, India
- Stob Dearg in Glen Coe, Scotland
- Store Skagastølstind in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
- The Horn in Victoria, Australia
- The Pyramid in Antarctica
- The Pyramid in British Columbia, Canada
- Snowdon in Snowdonia, Wales
- Vihren, Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria
See also
References
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Bibliography
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External links
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