What features characterize glacial landscapes?

Glacial landscapes are distinctly shaped by the processes of glaciation, which creates specific landforms that can be recognized and categorized. The presence of U-shaped valleys is a primary characteristic of glacial erosion. These valleys are formed when a glacier scours the sides and floors of a valley, creating a broad, flat base and steep sides, in contrast to the V-shaped valleys created by river erosion.

Erratics also serve as a significant feature of glacial landscapes. These boulders are transported by glacial ice and deposited far from their source as glaciers melt, providing evidence of past glacial movement and climate change. Kettle lakes form when chunks of glacial ice become buried in sediment and subsequently melt, leaving depressions that fill with water. These lakes are common in regions previously covered by glaciers.

In contrast, flat plains and sandy dunes (first option) are typically associated with desert or wind-driven processes, not glacial action. V-shaped valleys and large lakes (second option) pertain to fluvial systems rather than glacial ones. Streams and river delta formations (fourth option) are characteristics of riverine systems and do not accurately reflect the geomorphology resulting from glacial activity. Therefore, the features identified in the correct choice