Oxbow Lakes

Definition, Formation and Photo

Gallery
 Definition of Oxbow Lake
• An oxbow lake is a U- shaped body of water
formed when a wide meander from the main
stream of a river is cut off to create a lake. This
landform is called an oxbow lake for the
distinctive curved shape that result from the
process.
•  Oxbows are caused by the loops of meanders
being cut off at times of flood and the river
changing its route so that it flows along a
shorter course.
 Formation of Oxbow Lake
• An ox-bow lake is formed when a river creates
a meander.
• It is formed when the river’s banks erode
through abrasion and corrosion.

• When the meander of a river is extremely

curved, the neck of the meander will touch
and both ends will join, cutting the meander
to form an ox-bow lake.
 Formation of Oxbow Lake
• Sometimes, the ends join through flooding.
The water’s powerful current erodes the land
between two bends of the meander and
causes them to join together.

• After a while, deposition ‘seals’ the cut-off

point of the river.
• In the end, the result is usually a horseshoe
shaped ox-bow lake.