'Meanders' Geography Worksheet Page 3

2. Formation of an oxbow lake (cont)

The water flows around the

Over time, deposits of sediment build

meander. Erosion occurs on the

up by the backwater. The backwater is

outside bend and deposition occurs

eventually cut off, leaving a kidney-

on the inside bend.

shaped oxbow lake behind.

The water breaks across the neck of

The water is flowing the fastest on the

the meander. For a short time, water

outside bend. Over time, the meander

flows around the backwater and

becomes an S shape. A thin strip of

across the neck of the meander.

land called a neck is created at the

beginning and the end of the meander.

3) On the cut-out diagrams, label the following features:

- oxbow lake (duh)

- backwater

- neck of a meander

4) What do you think will happen to the oxbow lake over time? Why?

Answer on pasted sequence page.

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