Question of rivers

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Slide 13

The photo shows the River Tay which at 117 miles is Scotland’s longest river.

It rises only 25 miles from the west coast but flows east to its mouth on the North Sea.

Although many English rivers e.g. the Severn and theThames are longer than the Tay, the Tay carries a greater volume of water than any other British river.

Dundee is located on its estuary.

Slide 14

ox bow lake

limit of tidal influence

river channel more than 8m

meanders

broad, flat flood plain

gentle long profile

embankments/levees

Slide 15

This feature is a confluence. It occurs where a tributary joins the main stream or river.

Downstream of a confluence , the river increases in width. The discharge of a river (the volume of water it is carrying) also increases significantly.

Slide 16

interlocking spurs

steep valley sides

absence of flood plain

steep long profile

large bedload

Slide 17

a band of hard rock interrupts the river’s course

An overhang develops where the softer rock below is eroded. In time this will collapse.

relatively softer rock

plunge pool

Slide 18

This valley is a U-shaped valley in the Scottish Highlands. It was eroded by ice during the Ice Age.

It is much too large and deep to have been carved by the small river which now flows in it.

The river is called a ‘misfit’ as it is not in keeping with the scale of its valley.

Although the river is in a highland valley, it displays features of a valley in its lower course (meanders). This is because the valley floor is so flat.

Slide 19

steep valley sides

many small tributaries

no flood plain

river channel less than 8m wide

steep long profile

river follows a relatively straight course

Slide 20

9

On the inside of the meander water is flowing more slowly. This results in deposition and the formation of the slip-off slope or river beach.

On the outside of the meander water is flower more quickly. This results in erosion and the formation of a cut bank or river cliff.