Rivers GapFill

The formation of an oxbow lake

One feature of the lower course of a river that you will find in every textbook, and therefore in this eRevision quiz, is the oxbow lake. This feature is found in the   oldestmiddlelowersoupfirstupper course and is formed when the   wristlegarmanklefingerneck of a meander or river bend gets so narrow that the river breaks through and starts to flow in a new   waterwayductchannelgrooveapproachgutter. As the water no longer flows around the meander,  erosiondepositionfreeze-thaw weatheringattritionhydraulic actiontransportation occurs. The riverbed fills up with   anglersfishsewageboatsplunge poolssilt and the water becomes   acid rainstagnantalkalineacidicturbulentstaid and   evaporationinfiltrationdeprivationvegetationconurbationinnovation starts to grow there. This then becomes a   habithabitualhabitathamperhearsehouse for certain wading   amphibiansreptilesmammalsbirdsinsectsfish such as   blackbirdskingfishersheronsgeesesparrowsswans.