Describe and explain the formation of meanders (6)

Meanders form in rivers due to processes of erosion and deposition. Bends in a river are initially formed by the deposit of sediment on the river bed, resulting in the fluctuations in the rivers flow. Shallower areas with this deposit are known as riffles, while deeper areas are called pools. The flow of the river naturally increases in pools, where we see less friction and more erosion, causing the river to bend.
Over time, the repeated erosion by abrasion and hydraulic action at pools and deposition at riffles will develop meanders. On the outside bend, where the river flows the fastest (known as the thalweg) due to the least amount of friction, there will be the greatest erosion, forming a steep-sided river cliff. Alternatively, on the inside bend where the flow is slower due to increased friction, a shallow slip-off slope will form due to large amounts of deposition. This will gradually widen the meander.