River Terminology 10/17/00

Erosion The break up and transport of earth materials by moving natural agents. Natural agents: Glaciers, Wind and Moving Water

Bed load Sand, pebbles and boulders which are rolled along the bottom of a stream.

Solution A mixture of one or more substances which has been dissolved in something.

Suspension Materials (more dense than water) which are kept from sinking by the turbulence of stream flow.

Gully A miniature stream valley formed when water erodes away the land at the head of a depression.

Watershed All of the land that runs into a river, including its tributaries.

Divide The high land which separates one gully or river valley from the next.

Floodplain The valley floor where the river overflows its banks during periods of high water.

Meanders Broad curves of a river which form on a flood plain.

Oxbow Lake A former river meander which has been isolated from the river.

Levees Elevated ridges found along river banks.

Deposition Moving water drops its sediment when the speed or volume of water decrease.

Delta Fan shaped deposits found at the mouths of rivers.

Name each river feature: