The River Valley

Question 1

What is a rivers’ course?

Answer 1

The path of the river as it flows downhill

Question 2

What does a river valley look like in the upper course?

The river channel?

Answer 2

V-shaped valley, steep sides

Narrow, shallow channel

Question 3

What does a river valley look like in the middle course?

The river channel?

Answer 3

Gently sloping valley sides

Wider, deeper channel

Question 4

What does a river valley look like in the lower course?

The river channel?

Answer 4

Very wide, almost flat valley

Very wide, deep channel

Question 5

What is vertical erosion?

Lateral?

Answer 5

Erosion that deepens the river channel

Widens the river channel

Question 6

When is vertical erosion more dominant?

Lateral?

Answer 6

Upper course

Middle and lower course

Question 7

What’s a long profile?

Answer 7

Shows you the gradient of a river throughout its course

Question 8

What is a cross profile?

Answer 8

Shows you the cross section of a river channel