Geography rivers definitions

Cap Rock - layer of hard resistant rock forming the 'step' over which the 'falls' occur in a waterfall.

Delta – a river mouth in which sediments accumulate due to oceans currents being insufficient to remove them.

Distributaries – the branch of a river which flows away from the main stream and does not return to it. E.g. at a delta the river divides into a series of smaller channels and flows into the sea.

Estuary – a river mouth that is kept clear of sediments by the currents of the ocean

Floodplain - the area of land around a river channel which is formed during times of flood when the amount of water in a river exceeds its channel capacity and deposition of rich silt occurs.

Gorge - a steep sided valley left behind as a waterfall retreats upstream

Interlocking Spur - spurs are ridges of more resistant rock around which a river is forced to wind as it passes downstream in the upper course. Interlocking spurs form where the river is forced to swing from side to side around these more resistant ridges.

Levées - a raised river bank (can be natural features formed by deposition or artificial structures built to increase channel capacity and reduce flood risk)

Load - collective term for the material carried by a river

Meander - a bend in a river

Meander scar - feature left behind when the water in an ox-bow lake dries up.

Ox-bow lake - a lake formed when the continued narrowing of a meander neck results in the eventual cut through of the neck as two outer bends join. This result in the straightening of the river channel and the old meander bend becomes cut off forming an ox-bow lake

Plunge Pool - a deep pool beneath

River Cliff - a small cliff formed on the outside of a meander bend due to erosion in this high energy zone.

Slip off Slope - a small beach found on the inside of a meander bend where deposition has occured in the low energy zone.

V-shaped Valley - a valley which resembles a 'v' in cross section. These valleys have steep sloping sides and narrow bottoms.

Waterfall - a cascade of water over a hard rock step in the upper course of a river