How are Meanders and Oxbow Lakes formed?
When a river creates a meander, an oxbow lake is the form it takes after a long period of time. The river creates the meander by erosion of the water. It makes the river take a curved shape, like an 'C'. During this time, the process of forming an oxbow lake then takes place. First, the water erodes the outside curve of the river, since the water is at it's fastest there. Deposition occurs in the inner curve of the meander. After time passes, the curves start to join together. The deposit then forms a bridge connecting to the other side. This cuts off the water from an oxbow lake, which sits isolated.
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Information taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxbow_lake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxbow_lake