In geology, a valley (also called a vale, dale, glen or strath and near or in Appalachia, a draw) is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.

The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys. Most valleys belong to one of these two main types or a mixture of them, at least with respect of the cross section of the slopes or hillsides.

River valleys anchor: River valleys

For a comprehensive list of world wide river valleys see: River valleys (category)

see: River phenomenon A valley formed by flowing water, or river valley, is usually V-shaped. The exact shape will depend on the characteristics of the stream flowing through it. Rivers with steep gradients, as in mountain ranges, produce steep walls and a narrow bottom. Shallower slopes may produce broader and gentler valleys, but in the lowest stretch of a river, where it approaches its base level, it begins to deposit sediment and the valley bottom becomes a floodplain.

Some broad V examples are:

• USA: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and others in Grand Canyon NP
• Alpine Europe:
• Austria: narrow passages of upper Inn valley (Inntal), affluents of Enns a.s.o
• Switzerland: Napf region, Zurich Oberland, Engadin
• Germany: affluents to the middle reaches of Rhine and Mosel

The original natural habitat of the human species was the large river valleys of the world, such as the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Yellow, Ganges, Amazon, Mississippi, etc. In pre-history, the rivers were used as a source of fresh water & food (fish and game animals), as well as a place to wash, and a sewer. The rivers carved the valleys. The valleys blocked the winds and shaded the inhabitants, creating cooler temperatures in the daytime, and warmer temperatures at night. The first civilizations grew from these river valley communities.

== Glacial valleys ==

A valley carved by glaciers, or glacial valley, are normally U-shaped. The valley becomes visible upon the recession of the glacier that forms it. When the ice recedes or thaws, the valley remains, often littered with small boulders that were transported within the ice. Floor gradient does not affect the valley's shape, it is the glacier's size that does. Continuously flowing glaciers - especially in the ice age - and large sized glaciers carve wide, deep incised valleys.

Examples of U-shaped valleys are found in every mountainous region that has experienced glaciation, usually during the Pleistocene ice ages. Most present U-shaped valleys started as V-shaped before glaciation. The glaciers carved it out wider and deeper, simultaneously changing the shape. This proceeds through the glacial erosion processes of glaciation and abrasion, which results in large rocky material (glacial till) being carried in the glacier. A material called boulder clay is deposited on the floor of the valley. As the ice melts and retreats, the valley is left with very steep sides and a wide, flat floor. A river or stream may remain in the valley. This replaces the original stream or river and is known as a misfit stream because it is smaller than one would expect given the size of its valley.