River Landforms

Question 1

Name the type of landforms in the upper course

Answer 1

Rapids
Waterfalls
Gorges
Interlocking spurs

Question 2

Name landforms in the middle course

Answer 2

Meanders
Oxbow lakes
Floodplains
Levees

Question 3

Name landforms in lower course

Answer 3

Wide floodplain
Levees
Deltas/ estuaries.

Question 4

How do waterfalls form

Answer 4

1. River flows over an area of hard rock which has a layer of softer rock beneath it.
   The softer rock is eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion more than the harder rock.
2. Water continues to erode the softer rock further and undercuts the hard rock which forms an overhang. This creates a steep drop called a waterfall
3. Overtime the hard rock is undercut by erosion, it eventually becomes unsupported and collapses. They undergo erosion at the foot of the waterfall where they erode the softer rock by abrasion and create a plunge pool
4. Overtime the process is repeated and the water fall retreats which leaves behind a steep sided valley called a gorge.

Question 5

How to interlocking spurs occur

Answer 5

1. There is more vertical erosion in the upper course. This creates steep, v-shaped valleys,
2. The river isn’t powerful enough to erode laterally so it has to wind around the hillsides made out of kore resistant rock
3. This created and interlocking spur as the river bends around them.

Question 6

How are rapids formed

Answer 6

These are fast flowing sections of the river in the upper course: water is turbulent and is formed from ridges of harder rock amongst the softer rock.
Water flows over soft and hard rock where the softer rock erodes more quickly and create uneven levels.
Water is fast and causes foaming