P1A 05Glossary of Key Terms in River Geography

Delta

• A type of cloud formation

• A landform created at the mouth of a river where sediment is deposited as it flows into a larger body of water.

• A geological process of erosion

• A type of fish found in rivers

Cut bank

• The inside bend of a meander where deposition occurs.

• The outside bend of a meander where erosion is most active.

• A type of riverbank that is reinforced with concrete.

• A section of river where the water flows slowly.

Gorge

• A narrow valley with steep sides, often formed by the retreat of a waterfall.

• A wide, flat area of land with few trees.

• A deep, circular hole in the ground.

• A steep cliff or rock face.

Fluvial landform

• A landform created by the action of a river or stream.

• A landform shaped by glacial activity.

• A landform formed by volcanic eruptions.

• A landform resulting from wind erosion.

Retreat

• The process by which a waterfall erodes upstream over time.

• The movement of water downstream in a river.

• The formation of a lake due to glacial melting.

• The process of sediment deposition at a river's mouth.

Levee

• A natural or artificial embankment along the edge of a river channel, often formed by the deposition of sediment during floods.

• A type of floodgate used to control water flow in rivers.

• A structure built to divert water away from urban areas.

• A natural formation of rocks that prevents erosion along coastlines.

Floodplain

• A flat area of land next to a river that is prone to flooding.

• A steep hill that is often dry and rocky.

• A low-lying area that is always submerged in water.

• A region characterized by high mountains and valleys.

Bank-full stage

• The point at which a river is at its lowest level.

• The maximum amount of water a river channel can hold before overflowing onto the floodplain.

• The stage where a river begins to dry up.

• The point where a river's flow is completely stopped.

Slip-off slope

• The gently sloping bank on the inside of a meander, where sediment is deposited.

• A steep bank on the outside of a meander, where erosion occurs.

• A flat area of land adjacent to a river, often flooded during heavy rains.

• A type of river delta formed by sediment deposition at the river's mouth.

Abrasion

• The process of erosion caused by the scraping and wearing away of rocks by sediment carried in the river's water.

• The process of sediment deposition in riverbeds.

• The formation of new rocks through volcanic activity.

• The movement of rocks due to tectonic shifts.