OLD-AGE STAGE (LOWER COURSE)
Click on the image above to open a Google Earth file showing the Yellow River in China meandering on its journey east and and some spectacular ox-bow lakes.
Flood Plains & Levees
Deltas
Deltas are triangular-shaped areas of land which form at the mouths of rivers. They are made up of alluvium.
When the river reaches the end of its journey and enters the sea it loses its energy and deposits its load on the bed of the sea. If the sea has no tides and weak currents then it cannot wash away these deposits. Overtime the deposits will build up and form a delta at the river's mouth. Soon the river channel becomes choked and the river breaks up into a number of small channels called distribuaries.
When the river reaches the end of its journey and enters the sea it loses its energy and deposits its load on the bed of the sea. If the sea has no tides and weak currents then it cannot wash away these deposits. Overtime the deposits will build up and form a delta at the river's mouth. Soon the river channel becomes choked and the river breaks up into a number of small channels called distribuaries.
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Click here to see an animation of how a delta forms.