Geography

Common
Entrance
Studying River
Erosion
By Byungmoo Lee
 Water flows fastest on the outer curve of
the bend, and slowest on the inner curve.
 So the outer bank gets eroded while
material is deposited at the inner bank.
 Over time the outer bank gets worn away
and the inner one built up. The bend grows
into a meander.
 1. The soft rock is easy to erode, but the hard rock is
resistant. So, over time, a ledge develops.

 2. The water rushes over the ledge and erodes soft rock,
forming a plunge pool.

 3. The ledge collapses into the plunge pool, where the

debris helps to speed up erosion.
 How an oxbow lake
develops

Narrow Neck of the Meander is gradually being

eroded
 Water now takes the quickest route
 Deposition takes place, sealing off the old
meander
 The meander neck has been cut through
completely
 Ox-bow lake left behind when meander
completely cut-off