When a river reaches a low-lying plain, it continues erosion of soil as well as deposition and as a result of both these factors, another river channel develop,s and later it is detached from the main rive,r forming a U-shaped lake; this is called:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. an oxbow lake.
The process described leads to the formation of an oxbow lake. When a river enters a low-lying plain, its velocity decreases, causing deposition along the inner curves of meanders and continued erosion along the outer curves. Over time, the neck of a meander may become very narrow. During high flow or flooding, the river can cut through this narrow neck, creating a new, straighter channel. The old meander loop is then cut off from the main river, forming a U-shaped or crescent-shaped lake, known as an oxbow lake. This phenomenon demonstrates the dynamic interaction of erosion and deposition in shaping river landscapes.