Water is directed towards the outer bend, so that's where the water flows fastest. This is because
the water is deeper so there is less friction between the water and river bed
The high velocity of the water causes high levels of hydraulic action and
abrasion, so the river is undercut, and a river cliff is formed
On the inner bend the water flows more slowly. This is because the shallow water
means more friction between the water and river bed
The reduced speed means that material carried in the river is deposited. This
creates a 'slip off slope' (small beach) over time
Over time the meanders change shape and migrate across the flood plain
The main reason oxbow lakes form is that the deeper water on
the outer bend continues to be eroded by hydraulic action
As a result, the outside bends move closer together and the 'meander neck'
becomes narrower
When there is high discharge (amounts of water in the channel) the river
cuts straight through the neck of the meander as a shortcut
Deposition through the new channel eventually seals off the old meander forming a
straighter river channel
The old meander is left isolated, forming an oxbow lake which is shaped
like a horseshoe
Over time, the lake dries up and fills with mud leaving a meander
scar