Formation of landforms - Meanders

Question 1

What is a meander

Answer 1

large bends in river in the middle and lower courses

Question 2

How do meanders form

Answer 2

the current is faster on the outside of a bend because the channel is deeper so there is less friction to slow the water, so more erosion takes place on the bend forming river cliffs, the current is slower on the inside of the bend because the channel is sallower, so eroded material is deposited on the inside of the bend forming slip-off slopes

Question 3

What can meanders turn into

Answer 3

ox-box lakes

Question 4

How do ox-bow lakes form

Answer 4

erosion causes the outside bends to get closer until there is only a small l=bit of land left between the bends, river breaks through this land usually during a flood and the river flows along the shortest route, deposition eventually cuts of the meander forming an ox-bow lake