Interconnection Water stored in the glacial ice is slowly released as the sun melts the top of the ice and as heat from the earth melts the bottom of the glacier. As a result, even during the driest summer months rivers continue to flow with glacial meltwater. Insects, fish, mammals, birds, amphibians and forests all depend on glacial meltwater. Glaciers move much more slowly than rivers. Glaciers are found on the tops of mountains.
Rivers hold many forms of life.
Glaciers create U-shaped valleys. Rivers create V-shaped valleys. Rivers become braided in flat valley bottoms. Both salmon and salamanders are dependent on health rivers to survive. Water stored in the glacial ice is slowly released as the sun melts the top of the ice and while heat from the earth melts the bottom.