What carves glacier caves within glaciers?

Glacier caves are primarily formed through the action of water circulating within the glacier. As a glacier moves, it generates heat through friction and compression, which can cause melting. This meltwater often travels along pathways within the ice, eroding the glacier and creating spaces or cavities. The flow of this water can carve intricate cave systems as it continues to move and rework the ice structure.

While ice movement contributes to the overall dynamics of glacial systems and can influence the distribution of meltwater, it is the circulating water that actively shapes and forms the caves within the glacier itself.