River Tees (Rivers)

Question 1

Where is the River Tees?

Answer 1

North-east of England, source in Pennine hills at 893m, mouth in Middlesborough.

Question 2

Give some river landforms in the upper course.

Answer 2

Interlocking spurs (water winding to flow around rock), v-shaped valley, waterfalls, gorges

Question 3

Give some landforms found in the middle course.

Answer 3

Meanders, ox-bow lakes, slip-off slopes, river cliffs, flood plains

Question 3

Give some landforms found in the lower course.

Answer 3

Flood plains, levees, mudflats

Question 4

Explain how a meander forms and changes over time.

Answer 4

Formed in the middle course. Where there is a disturbance in the river, the flow is changed so that the river is slightly curved(1). This makes the speed of the river uneven, it is faster on the outside(river cliffs) and slower on the inside(slip-off-slopes)(2). Over time, these curves by lateral erosion until they meet, creating a shorter course for the river(3) by cutting off the meaner’s neck. Eventually, due to a lack of water flowing through the ox-bow lake, deposition causes it to be cut off and straightening the river.

Question 5

Explain how a waterfall forms and changes over time.

Answer 5

A harder, more resistant band of rock is situated over a softer, less resistant band of rock(1). This causes faster erosion of the soft rock and so an overhang and plunge pool forms(2). The overhang collapses as it is weakened by erosion and weathering, and is pulled into the plunge pool(3). The water retreats upstream from this process of erosion and falling of the overhang(4). An example would be High Force on the River Tees.