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RiversThe beginning of a river is called its

source.All rivers have tributaries streams that

join the main riverRiver system drains an area called a

drainage basinThe area between two drainage basins is

called a watershedPart of a river that is tidal is called an

estuaryMouth of a river is where it meets the sea

or a lake

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Rivers stages

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Upper / youthful stage

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upper

Vertical erosionInterlocking spursWaterfallsV-shaped valleys

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Middle ( mature stage)

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Middle stageLateral erosion erodes its banksMeandersWidening valleyFlood plain

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Lower (old stage)

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Lower

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Lower stageDepositionFlood plainOx-bow lakesDelta

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Deposition

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Floodplain

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Ox-Bow lake

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Delta

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River processesSpeed and energy of water erodes =

hydraulic action.Fragments of rock carried by river called the

load wear away the banks and river bed = abrasion.

Crashing of stones and pebbles carried by the river wears itself away = attrition.

Limestone chalk dissolved by carbonic acid = solution