Meanders and ox-bow lakes

• Thalweg- line of fastest velocity in the river
• • Meanders are formed by lateral erosion and deposition.
  • It starts as wildlife and weather creates a hole in the bed of the river.
  • This causes the flow of the river and where the energy is now less, sediment is then deposited
  • This creates a small bend, but the rivers flow is faster on the outside so erosion happens quicker than on the inside so rocks and mud are deposited there.
  • Overtime this will create a larger meander in the river
• • An oxbow lake is where the meanders keep getting bigger
  • Overtime, they can meet and water bursts through to go the fastest route
  • This cuts off the original meander and makes a crescent shape lake.