Arete (landform) - Definition and Overview

This article is about a glacial landform. See Arête for other meanings.

An Arete is a thin, almost knife-like, ridge of rock. Aretes are typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. An arete is the thin ridge of rock that is left separating the two valleys. Aretes can also form when two glacial cirques erode towards one another, although frequently this results in a saddle-shaped pass, called a col.

Notable examples of aretes include:

• Clouds Rest, in the Sierra Nevada, USA
• The Garden Wall, in Glacier National Park, USA (image to right)

Example Usage of (landform)