Levees

Question 1

What is a levee

Answer 1

A levee is a build-up of alluvium on the banks of a river. Levees are caused by floods

Question 2

Is a levee formed by deposition or erosion

Answer 2

Deposition

Question 3

Example of levees

Answer 3

the lower courses of the rivers
Moy and Liffey.

Question 4

Formation of a levee

Answer 4

In times of low flow, material is deposited on the river bed, raising the height of the river bed.
• In times of flood, the water leaves the channel and spreads out over the flood plain. As it does so, it loses energy and deposits its load.
• The coarser, heavier material is deposited on the river banks, and the finer material is carried further onto the flood plain.
• After many floods, the river builds a bank on either side. Artificial levees (human-made river banks) can also be used to protect the surrounding land from flooding.