An elongated depression between hills or mountains that usually follows the course of a channel of water or ice. The cross-section of a valley will usually resemble one of two shapes: (1) V-shaped valley - a valley that usually has shallow sides and a crosssection that resembles the letter "V". V-shaped valleys are usually formed by the erosion of a channel of flowing water. (2) U-shaped valley - a type of valley with steep walls and a broad floor, with a cross-section resembling the letter "U". U-shaped valleys are usually formed by glacial erosion