GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A meander is when water flows in a curvy, bendy path, like a snake. As a river makes its way through an area that is relatively flat, it often develops bends as it erodes its way through the path of least resistance. Once a meander starts, it often becomes more and more exaggerated.

Detailed explanation-2: -Meanders are produced when water in the stream channel erodes the sediments of an outer bend of a streambank and deposits this and other sediment on subsequent inner bends downstream. This process reinforces the riffle-pool structure of a stream.

Detailed explanation-3: -A river flowing over a floodplain may wear away broad curves. These curves are called meanders.

Detailed explanation-4: -An oxbow lake starts out as a curve, or meander, in a river. A lake forms as the river finds a different, shorter, course.