River Landforms

Flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts related to river landforms and their characteristics.

Erosion

The mechanical wearing away of rocks caused by the force of flowing water.

Transport

The movement of material downstream, such as pebbles, gravel, and sand.

Deposition

The accumulation of rock material in river valleys.

Upper Course

The part of the river with very high energy and strong downward erosion, forming narrow and deep valleys.

Waterfall

A landform created when softer rocks are eroded faster than harder rocks, creating a step in the river bed.

Meanders

Bends in the river formed due to erosion on the outer side and deposition on the inner side.

Levee

The accumulation of sand and gravel on the inner side of a meander.

Oxbow Lake

A crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander is cut off from the main river channel.

Floodplain

Wide flat areas next to the river formed when the river floods and deposits material.

Delta

A fan-shaped accumulation of material at the mouth of the river.