Here's why:
* Glacial Erosion: Glaciers carve out the landscape through a process called glacial erosion. As a glacier moves, its weight and embedded rocks grind down the underlying rock.
* Asymmetrical Shape: A roche moutonnée is formed when a glacier flows over a bedrock knob or hill. The side facing the oncoming glacier is smoothed and rounded by abrasion, creating a gentle slope. The opposite side, where the glacier retreats, is left steeper and often with a jagged, plucked appearance. This creates the armchair-like shape.
* "Sheep's Back" The name "roche moutonnée" comes from the French meaning "sheep's back," a reference to the rounded, smooth appearance of these landforms.
