Landforms in the Upper Course of a River

What are interlocking spurs?

• Fingers of land that jut out into the river valley

• Fast flowing, turbulent sections of the river

• Steep and narrow gorges formed by retreating waterfalls

• Sections of the river where the bed has a relatively steep gradient

What are the characteristics of interlocking spurs?

• Steep gradients, convex slopes, and separated by a narrow valley floor

• Fast flowing, turbulent sections of the river

• Sections of the river where the bed has a relatively steep gradient

• Fingers of land that jut out into the river valley

What type of erosion dominates in the upper course of the river?

• Vertical erosion

• Lateral erosion

• Hydraulic action

• Abrasion

What determines the height and number of waterfalls along a stream or river?

• The type of rocks being eroded by the water

• The vertical bedding and differential erosion

• The erosion of the plunge pool and back wall of the waterfall

• The movement of weathered material at the sides of the river

How are waterfalls formed?

• Water falls onto soft rock after flowing over hard rock

• Vertical erosion deepens the valley by hydraulic action and abrasion

• The river flows over a band of hard rock that lies over the top of the softer rock

• The river erodes the softer rock faster through hydraulic action and abrasion

What is the process that leads to the formation of a gorge?

• The waterfall retreats upstream, leaving behind a steep and narrow gorge

• The river flows around fingers of land in the upper course

• The river erodes the softer rock faster through hydraulic action and abrasion

• The river flows over a band of hard rock that lies over the top of the softer rock

What is the tallest waterfall in England?

• High Force on the River Tees

• Cauldron Snout on the River Tees

• Summerhill Force waterfall, Bowlees, Teesdale

• Skógafoss on the Skógá River in Iceland

What is the main cause of erosion in the upper course of a river?

• Vertical erosion by hydraulic action and abrasion

• Lateral erosion by the movement of weathered material

• Erosion of the plunge pool and back wall of the waterfall

• Erosion of the interlocking spurs

What is the characteristic feature of a v-shaped valley?

• Steep and narrow gorge

• Interlocking spurs

• Fast flowing, turbulent sections of the river

• Sections of the river where the bed has a relatively steep gradient

What is the main factor that determines the formation of a waterfall?

• The type of rocks being eroded by the water

• The vertical bedding and differential erosion

• The erosion of the plunge pool and back wall of the waterfall

• The movement of weathered material at the sides of the river