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RIVER
S
 ELEMENTS OF A
RIVER
Mouth: the "mouth of a river" refers to the place where a river
flows into a larger body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake

Source: the "source" of a river refers to the point where the river
originates or begins. It is typically a spring, a melting glacier, or a lake
from which the river's waters flow.

Tributary: tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger

one. It contributes water to the main river but doesn't flow directly into
the sea or ocean.

A confluence: is the point where two or more rivers, streams, or other

bodies of water meet and flow together. It is the location where the
waters from different tributaries or rivers merge to form a single,
larger body of water.

A drainage basin: also known as a watershed or catchment area, is the

land area from which a river or stream collects its water.

Distributaries: are smaller channels that branch off from a main river
and carry water away from it, usually spreading out into a delta or an
area with multiple outlets.

A consequent: stream is a stream or river that flows along the general

slope of the land, typically following the natural path of least
resistance determined by the region's topography
consequent
 OF
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T The lowercourse of a river is characterized by a gentle gradient, flat terrain, wide floodplains,
dominant deposition processes, large meanders, oxbow lakes, and the formation of a delta at its
mouth, where the river loses most of its energy and deposits its sediment load, creating a flat
landscape prone to flooding; essentially, the river is primarily depositing sediment rather than actively
eroding the land.

Key characteristics of the lower course:

• Low gradient: The river has a very slight slope, meaning the water flows slowly.

• Wide floodplain: A large, flat area of land next to the river that is prone to flooding during high
water levels.

• Meanders: Large, sweeping bends in the river channel due to lateral erosion.

• Oxbow lakes: Crescent-shaped lakes formed when a meander is cut off from the main river channel.

• Deposition: The dominant process in the lower course as the river loses energy and drops its
sediment load.

• Levees: Natural ridges of sediment deposited along the river banks during floods.

• Delta formation: At the river mouth, where the river meets the sea, a large deposit of sediment
1. Floodplains
Description: A flat, wide area of land that is prone to flooding, located on either side of the river. It is
formed by the deposition of sediment during floods.
Features: Often has fertile soil, which makes it ideal for agriculture. Over time, floodplains can grow
larger as the river meanders and deposits sediment
.
2. Deltas
Description: A delta is formed where the river meets a body of water (such as an ocean or a lake)
and deposits sediment, causing the river to split into many smaller channels called distributaries.
Features: Deltas are typically triangular or fan-shaped. They can be characterized by a network of
rivers, islands, and marshes. Deltas are rich in biodiversity and are important habitats for many
species.

3. Estuaries
Description: An estuary is a tidal area where freshwater from a river meets and mixes with
seawater.
Features: Estuaries are characterized by brackish water and serve as important ecosystems,
providing a habitat for various marine and bird species. They are also vulnerable to flooding and
storm surges
.
4. Meanders
Description: As rivers reach the lower course, they often begin to meander (form large, looping
curves across the landscape).
Features: The water slows down and erodes the outer banks, while depositing sediment on the inner
banks. Over time, meanders can migrate across the floodplain.
5. Oxbow Lakes
Description: These are crescent-shaped lakes formed when a meander is cut off from the main river.
Features: When a meander gets so exaggerated that the river eventually creates a new, shorter channel, the old loop of
the river becomes isolated, forming an oxbow lake
.
6. Levees
Description: Raised embankments formed naturally along the banks of the river due to the repeated flooding and
deposition of sediments.
Features: Levees help to contain the river within its channel, preventing further flooding of the surrounding land.

7. Alluvial Fans
Description: These are fan-shaped deposits formed where a river meets a flatter plain (typically in areas where a river
carrying a large amount of sediment flows from a steep mountain or hill to a flatter area).
Features: Alluvial fans can be found at the base of mountain ranges and are important for agriculture due to their fertile
soil.
8. Braided Rivers
Description: In some lower course areas, rivers split into multiple small, interwoven channels, known as braided rivers.
Features: These rivers are typically found in areas with a large sediment load, and their channels can change position
frequently. They form where the river's discharge is too high and the flow becomes chaotic.

9. Salt Marshes
Description: These are coastal wetlands formed in the lower course of a river where saltwater and freshwater mix.
Features: They support unique ecosystems and act as important buffers to coastal erosion.

These landforms and features at the lower course of a river play important roles in the river's ecosystem, agriculture,
and human activities. They are influenced by the river's sediment load, flow speed, and interactions with the surrounding
environment.
 OXBOWLA
KE
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water that forms
when a meander (a bend) in a river or stream is cut off
from the main flow. This happens over time when the
river erodes the land on the outer curve of the bend and
deposits sediment on the inner curve. Eventually, the
river creates a new, straighter path, and the old
meander is isolated, forming an oxbow lake.
Over time, oxbow lakes may become smaller or even dry
up, depending on the surrounding environment and the
river's activity. They can also become habitats for
various plants and animals, making them valuable
ecosystems.
A OXBOW LAKE
 FLOODP
LAIN
A FLOODPLAIN LAKE IS A TYPE OF LAKE THAT
FORMS IN THE FLOODPLAIN OF A RIVER OR
STREAM. THESE LAKES ARE TYPICALLY
TEMPORARY AND CAN BE CREATED WHEN A
RIVER OR STREAM OVERFLOWS ITS BANKS
DURING PERIODS OF HIGH WATER, SUCH AS
DURING FLOODS. WHEN THE WATER RECEDES, IT
MAY LEAVE BEHIND POOLS OF WATER IN LOW-
LYING AREAS OF THE FLOODPLAIN, CREATING
SMALL LAKES OR PONDS.
FLOODPLA
IN
 Levees
levees are often constructed to
prevent flooding in areas that are
more prone to frequent or severe
floods. As the river flows through its
lower course, it generally has a
much wider channel, and the water's
flow becomes slower. Because of the
slower flow, the river often deposits
sediment along its banks, which can
create natural levees.
LEVEES
 DELTAS
delta is a landform that forms at the mouth of
a river, where the river meets a body of
standing water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake.
Deltas are created by the deposition of
sediment carried by the river as the flow
velocity decreases upon reaching the standing
water. The river's current slows down, causing
the sediment to settle, gradually building up
over time.
DELTAS
 BRAIDED
RIVER
A braided river is a type of river that
consists of multiple smaller channels (called
braids) which are divided and rejoined by
islands or bars of sediment. These rivers
have a distinctive appearance, often looking
like a "braid" of intertwined channels.
Braided rivers are typically found in areas
with high sediment loads, steep gradients,
and fluctuating water flows, often in
mountainous or glacial regions.
BRAIDED RIVER
 THANK
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