Upper, Middle, Lower Courses

• Upper Course:

  • Lots of vertical erosion
  • Deposition of large material
  • Start of it is called the source
  • Steep sided valley
  • Thin channel
• Middle Course:

  • Some vertical erosion
  • More lateral erosion
  • Valley floor developing
  • Wider river channel
• Lower Course:

  • Wide flood plains
  • River channel deep and wide
  • Bounded by levees
  • Only little lateral erosion