How can a river move sideways without leaving its valley?
A meandering river can remove material from the outside of a bend while depositing it on the inside. Over time, those unequal changes can shift the channel across its floodplain.
Questions you could explore
- How do erosion and deposition move the bend together?
- Which local conditions could change the pattern?
Start reading
- US National Park ServiceMeandering Stream
The National Park Service explains meander movement and the roles of riverbanks, flow, and sediment.
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