Describe the formation of an Oxbow Lake (4 marks)

An Oxbow lake is essentially formed when a meandering river has its flow cut off by sediment deposition. The Outer bend of a river is where the velocity of the river flow is highest hence the bank is eroded away. Conversely the inner bend of a river has lower velocity so sediment is deposited. Over a given period of time this process repeats until eventually the river becomes narrower. Once sediment deposition has covered the entirety of the river width the flow is cut off and leaves a lake that no longer joins to the main flow of the river. Eventually this lake will turn into a dry meander scar.