deposition

• Give examples of depositional landforms.

  Floodplains, levees and estuaries.
• What are floodplains?

  Floodplains are wide, flat areas of land found on either side of a river. They are extremely prone to flooding.
• Describe how floodplains can change due to deposition.

  • When a river floods, material being carried by the river is deposited on the floodplain. Over time, this raises the height of the floodplain.

  • Floodplains are also made wider due to the migration of meanders.
• What is the soil in floodplain areas like and why?

  The soil in floodplain areas is very fertile. This is due to the deposition of alluvium (silt) by the river.
• What are levees?

  Levees are naturally raised river banks that form when a river repeatedly floods and deposits sediment.
• Where are estuaries found?

  Estuaries are found where the tidal mouth of a river meets the sea.
• When were most estuaries formed and why?

  Most estuaries were formed at the end of the Ice Age, when the sea levels rose and caused widespread coastal flooding.