1. Meanders
Lesson 8 – page 7

2. Lesson Aims To learn what a meander is. To learn how meanders form.
To learn how an ox-bow lake forms.
Key Skill = Communication

3. Water flows faster on the outside of bends.
Abrasion and hydraulic action causes erosion.
This causes undercutting of the bank.
This causes a steep river cliff.

4. Water flows slower on the inside of bends.
The river deposits its load.
This results in a gentle bank of sand and gravel.
This is called a point bar.

5. River Cliff
Point Bar

6. River Taff - Cilfynydd
River Cliff
Point Bar
Water Works

7. Activity Draw a labelled sketch to show a meander.
How does a river cliff form?
How does a point bar form?

8. Meander Cross-Section

9. Activity Draw a labelled sketch to show a meander cross-section.
Label where it will be deeper and why.
Label where it will be shallower and why.

10. Ox-bow Lakes Meanders become more extreme.
This creates a narrow neck of land.
Fast current erodes the neck cutting off the meander.
Meander is sealed off by deposition to create an ox-bow lake.

11. Homework Activity
Draw an annotated sketch to show how sn ox-bow lake forms.