Parts of a River
The point where the river ends.
mouth
Pebbles, gravel and silt eroding a river's sides and bottom by scraping and grinding against them.
abrasion
When the river floods and material is deposited on the river bank. The heaviest material is deposited first creating a natural embankment.
levee.
From the source to the mouth we see the gradient change (increase or decrease)
decrease
The point where two rivers meet.
confluence
When floating mud, silt and sand particles are transported within a river.
suspension.
When a river deposits it material at the mouth of a river, the river makes its way through the sediment by splitting into distributaries.
delta.
Which section of the river profile is vertical erosion prominent.
upper course
The boundary separating one drainage basin from another
watershed
When small stones, pebbles and silt bounces along the river bed.
saltation
On the outside bank of a river there are fast currents eroding and undercutting the bank creating feature.
river cliff.
In the middle course we notice there is no longer vertical erosion. The channel is now becoming wider. This is because of .....
lateral erosion.
The land drained by a river and its tributaries.
drainage basin.
Material carried by the river collide with each other cause them to erode becoming smoother and rounder.
attrition.
In a waterfall the overhang usually falls into the plunge pool. It is eroded through the process .........
abrasion
Finer material is being transported here and eventually deposited.
lower course
A small stream leaving a main river.
distributary.
Large boulders are rolled along the river bed.
traction
The plunge pool is created by the force of the water itself. This process is known as
Hydraulic action
This increases along the river profile because of tributaries and surface runoff.
volume