River Landforms/features Flashcards
How does a v-shaped valley form?
The mountain stage of a river has a steep narrow channel. The flow is turbulent and most of the energy is used eroding the channel.
How is a waterfall formed?
A waterfall forms when a river flows from harder rock on to softer rock and erodes the softer rock more quickly.
As the years go by, a ledge develops.
The water rushes over the ledge and erodes the soft rock, forming a plunge pool
In time the ledge falls over.
The Brocken ledge gets eroded.
How is an oxbow lake formed?
It starts as a meander. The bend in the river erodes and the neck grows narrower and eventually the river takes a shortcut, soon the loop is sealed off all together. It turns into an oxbow lake.
In time it will get covered with soil and disappear.
How is a gorge formed?
A gorge is a steep sided valley formed when a waterfall retreats upstream
How is a meander formed?
Meanders are bends in a river that are formed by faster flowing water eroding the outside of the bend and the slower water depositing on the outside.
How is a floodplain formed?
In the lower stage of the river the gradient is much flatter and meanders create a wide, flat valley floor with the flood plains and levees.
