Rivers – Clip

The video explains how river meanders form and evolve over time. Initially slight, these bends become more pronounced as the river matures. Eventually, meanders can be cut off to form oxbow lakes through erosion and sediment deposition. This process is accelerated by heavy rain or flooding, which allows the river to break through the narrow neck of a meander. The resulting oxbow lakes provide habitats for various plants and wildlife.

What are the bends in a river called when they are newly formed?

• Estuaries

• Deltas

• Meanders

• Oxbow lakes

As a river matures, how do its meanders change?

• They form deltas

• They become larger and more winding

• They disappear

• They become straighter

What natural processes contribute to the formation of an oxbow lake?

• Earthquakes

• Tidal waves

• Volcanic activity

• Erosion and deposition

What event can cause a river to break through the neck of a meander?

• Heavy rain or flooding

• Volcanic eruption

• Drought

• Earthquake

What is left behind when a meander is cut off from the main river?

• An oxbow lake

• A delta

• A canyon

• A waterfall