Ribbon Lake - GCSE Geography Definition

A ribbon lake is a long, narrow lake that forms in a valley shaped by a glacier. When a glacier moves through a valley, it erodes the land, creating a deep, U-shaped valley. As the glacier moves, it can carve out deeper areas where the bedrock is softer or the ice is thicker. When the glacier eventually melts, these deeper areas can fill with water, creating a ribbon lake. These lakes often appear in mountainous areas where glaciers once flowed. They are called "ribbon" lakes because their long and thin shape resembles a ribbon. Ribbon lakes are common in areas like the Lake District in the UK.