Deltas

Question 1

What is a delta?

Answer 1

It’s a triangular or fan-shaped area of land at the mouth of the river found in the old stage.

Question 2

When does a river slow down?

Answer 2

The river slows down when entering a lake/ sea and loses energy, causing it to deposit its load.

Question 3

How is a delta formed?

Answer 3

Deltas form where river mouths become choked with sediment, causing the main river channel to split into many smaller channels or distributaries on their way to the sea.

Question 4

What conditions must there be for a delta to form?

Answer 4

• The river must be transporting a large amount of sediment.
• The sea must have a small tidal range and weak currents.
• The sea must be shallow at it’s mouth.

Question 5

What is an example of a delta?

Answer 5

The Mississippi delta in the USA