Rivers: How Ox-Bow lakes form

Question 1

Describe and explain the formation of Ox-Bow lakes:

Answer 1

The thawleg is where the water flows more faster on the outside of a meander, meaning it can erode the river bank as it has more energy. This causes the meander to become more narrowed and this forms a swans neck meander. Eventually the swans neck mender is eroded to form a cut off meander. Deposition is where the water flows slower and has less energy. Deposition eventually forms an ox-bow lake and this is how ox-bow lakes are formed.