Oxbow Lakes Flashcards
1
Q
Step 1
A
A meander starts as a slight bend water flows faster outside of the bend than on the inside
2
Q
Step 2
A
So the outside of the bend is eroded away. Material is deposited on the inner of the bend
3
Q
Step 3
A
This erosion and deposition turns the bend into a meander
4
Q
Step 4
A
The meander bends over more and more over the years until it becomes a really tight loop
5
Q
Step 5
A
When the water level is really high, the river has enough energy to straight across the loop rather than around it
6
Q
Step 6
A
This is called a meander cut off
7
Q
Step7
A
The river keeps to its new channel so the loop is left as an oxbow lake
8
Q
Step 8
A
After a long time the oxbow lake silts up and dries up and vegetation grows in it
