What is a river upper course?

Upper course features. Upper course river features include steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges. Middle course river features include wider, shallower valleys, meanders, and oxbow lakes. Lower course river features include wide flat-bottomed valleys, floodplains and deltas.

Accordingly, what is a course of a river?

The Course of a River A river is fresh water flowing across the surface of the land, usually to the sea. It flows in a channel. There are three parts of a river, the upper course (The start of the river), the middle course (The middle part of the river) and the lower course (The end of the river).

Secondly, is the upper course of a river fast? Upper course - this is where the river starts and is usually an upland area. Slopes are steep - this can increase the velocity of the river after heavy rainfall, when discharge is high. The river channel is narrow and shallow here.

Herein, how is the upper course of a river formed?

In the upper course of a river gradients are steep and river channels are narrow. When a river runs over alternating layers of hard and soft rock, rapids and waterfalls may form. Waterfalls commonly form where water rushes down steep hillsides in upland areas and quickly erodes the rocks.

What is the upper course of the river Tees like?

In its upper course, the River Tees flows over hard, impermeable rocks. The UK's largest waterfall, High Force, is located in the upper course of the River Tees. An area of hard rock, called Whin Sill (or Whinstone), is located above a layer of soft rocks (sandstone and shale) and together they create the waterfall.

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What are the 3 stages of a river?

3 Stages of a River

YOUTHFUL STAGE (UPPER COURSE) – V- Shaped Valley > Erosion.
MATURE STAGE (MIDDLE COURSE) – Meanders > Erosion and Deposition.
OLD AGE STAGE (LOWER COURSE) – Floodplains > Deposition.
Advantages. Scenic Attraction.
Dangers. Flooding – Damage to property, land, animals and homes.
Advantages.
Disadvantages.

What are the 3 parts of a river?

PARTS OF A RIVER. Rivers are split up into three parts: the upper course, the middle course, and the lower course. The upper course is closest to the source of a river. The land is usually high and mountainous, and the river has a steep gradient with fast-flowing water.

What are the four types of rivers?

Perennial River. Source: American Cruise Lines.
Periodic River. Periodic, also often referred to as ephemeral or intermittent, rivers differ from perennial rivers in that they do not flow throughout the year.
Episodic River.
Exotic River.
Tributary River.
Distributary River.
Underground River.
Rapids.

What is the last stage of river?

When the river reaches the end of its journey, it is called an old river. The end of the river is called the mouth. At the mouth, there is often a river delta, a large, silty area where the river splits into many different slow-flowing channels that have muddy banks.

What are the features of a river?

Features overview

Meanders, Slip-off slopes, ox-bow lakes. Deltas, flood plains, levees, meanders, ox-bow lakes. Relatively slow moving. Despite areas of fast flowing water, the large amount of material on the river channel bed means that friction will slow the water down.

What is a lower course of a river?

Lower course of a river

The volume of water in a river is at its greatest in the lower course. This is due to the contribution of water from tributaries. The river channel is deep and wide and the land around the river is flat. Energy in the river is at its lowest and deposition occurs. .

What are the characteristics of a mature river?

MATURE RIVERS

A river with a gradient that is less steep than those of youthful rivers and flows more slowly. A mature river is fed by many tributaries and has more discharge than a youthful river. Its channels erode wider rather than deeper.

What is the middle of a river called?

The middle part of a river is called a mature river.

What is the upper part of a river?

The brooks, streams, and creeks that form a river are called its tributaries. Flowing down from high hills and mountains, the upper part (or course) of a river is usually narrow, steep, and marked by sharp valleys and abrupt, zig-zag changes of direction.

What is found in the middle course of a river?

The middle course of a river is found on gently sloping land, and is typically identified by its meandering path - the sweeping side to side curves. The middle course has two main features - meanders and ox-bow lakes.

What is in the middle course of a river?

The middle course of a river has more energy and volume then in the upper course. The gradient is more gentle and lateral (sideways) erosion has widened the channel. The river channel has also become deeper. Meanders are typical landforms found in this stage of the river.

How is a river formed?

Most rivers begin life as a tiny stream running down a mountain slope. They are fed by melting snow and ice, or by rainwater running off the land. The water follows cracks and folds in the land as it flows downhill. Small streams meet and join together, growing larger and larger until the flow can be called a river.

What is the main function of a river in its upper course?

In the upper course , the river carries sediments which are deposited layer by layer over period of time. Thus apart from having a fertile alluvial soil, they also help in land formation. As the river moves through the upper course, it cuts downwards. The gradient here is steep and the river channel is narrow.

Why is the upper course of a river shallow?

In its upper course, a river is shallow and narrow. As it flows quickly downhill it erodes soil and rock, often producing waterfalls and gorges. As the Tay continues its journey, it cuts deeper into the river bed forming a V-shaped valley.

What is the start of a river called?

The beginning of a river is called its headwaters.

What is the long profile of a river?

A long profile is a line representing the river from its source (where it starts) to its mouth (where it meets the sea). It shows how the river changes over its course. Upper course - in the upper course, where the river starts, there is often an upland area.

How long do oxbow lakes last?

When this happens a new, straighter river channel develops—and an abandoned meander loop, called a cutoff, forms. When deposition finally seals off the cutoff from the river channel, an oxbow lake forms. This process can occur over a time from a few years to several decades, and may sometimes become essentially static.