1. Sports

Discuss in my forum

Cwm

Definition of a Climbing Word

By , About.com Guide

A cirque or cwm is a glacier-carved basin on a mountain.

A wide cliff-lined glacial cirque high on Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest mountain.

Photograph © Stewart M. Green

Cwm

A cwm is an alpine cirque or cliff-lined semi-circular basin that is excavated by glaciers in high mountains. It's often a hanging valley or a valley that "hangs" above a larger and deeper glaciated valley. The Welsh word, pronounced kôôm, means "valley."

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.