Geography notes

Rivers
A river is a fresh body of water flowing from the source
which usually starts in the mountain to the mouth or
estuary , which usually ends in the sea .
Concepts associated with river
Source: The place where the river ends
Confluence : Junction where a tributary joins the main
river .
Tributary : A small river flowing into a larger river . It
contributes to the flow of the river .
Distributary : A smaller river flowing out of a larger
river. It distributes the flow of the river
Long profile : Length of the river from source to
mouth .
Cross Profile: The width of the river from bank to bank

Consequent Stream – The main river

Subsequent Stream – A tributary
A river is divided into three main stages
1. Upper course
2. Middle course
3. Lower course

Characteristics of upper course

1. A narrow vshape valley
2. Fast flowing river
3. Steep gradient
4. Formation of numerous erosional features
( otwater falls, rapids , spurs, interlocking spurs ,
pot holes
Middle course
1. Wider v shape valey
2. Moderate flowing river
3. Moderate gradient
4. Formation of features such as meanders , cliffs ,
slipoff slopes ,
Lower course
Very wide -u shaped valley
Slow flowing river
Flat gradient
 Numerous depositional features (Deltas Flood plain
Levees , etc )
deepening and widening of the channel
Vertical erosion and lateral erosion
Vertical erosion: downward type of erosion that
deepen the channel
Lateral erosion: outward erosion widening the
channel
A river erodes its channel in four main ways :
A Erosion : is the wearing away or loosening of
materials in the river system .
a) Corrosion /abrasion – this is the wearing away of
the bed and banks of a river by the bed load.
b)Corrosion/ solution: this process is dominant
where there is limestone present. The river water
mixes with the calcium carbonate in the limestone
rocks to form calcium bicarbonate. Eventually the
rocks are dissolved and carried away by the river
water.
c) Hydraulic action: this is the wearing away of the
bed and banks of a river by the force of the water
in the river system
d)Attrition – this refers to the striking or collision as
they move down stream.
 B) Transportation : is the carrying of materials in
the river system .
a) Saltation : this involves of jumping of sand
particles down stream
b) Corrosion/ solution : this process is dominant
where there is limestone present . The river water
mixes with the calcium carbonate in the limestone
rocks to form calcium bicarbonate. Eventually the
rocks are dissolved and carried away by the river
water.
Suspension : this is the carrying of sediments such as
silt and mud in the river system as they become
suspended in the water
Traction : this involves the dragging of large boulders
long the bed of the river.
A river deposits its load in the following manner :
C) Deposition : is the dropping or resting of bed load
along the river bed.
For a river to deposits its load the following conditions
must be present:
a. The volume of the river must be reduced
b. The velocity of the river must be reduced
c. The gradient of the river must be reduced
d. The river must be flowing into dryland , lake, sea
or another river.

Essentially a river deposits its load in a sorting

manner
a) Very large boulders are deposited first
b)Gravels and shingles are deposited second
c) Sand and silt are deposited third
d)The salts are usually carried into the sea where
they remained

The main features formed in thee upper stage of

a river include:
a) Waterfalls: this is the vertical fall of water
from a high elevation to a low elevation along
the river bed.
Essentially corrosion and hydraulic action
undercuts the soft rock faster than the hard
rock to first formed a rapid. Continuous
erosion expands the rapid into a vertical fall of
water thereby producing a waterfall over a
period.
NB waterfall can also be formed from sills and
dykes etc

Types of river erosion

 Vertical erosion
. deepens the river channel

Lateral erosion
.Widens the river channel

Plunge pool : this is a large depression found

at the base of a waterfall. It is formed when
the force of water from a waterfall together
with bed load erodes the base of the water
Rapids :

Pot holes: Potholes are 'a depression or hollow in a road

surface caused by wear or subsidence'. They are, very simply,
parts of a road surface that have become damaged over time
through cracking or wear.

Gauges : a very deep river valley . Cliffs on both

side and centre is a large hole or valley. Formed
form tremendous vertical erosion.

Interlocking spurs: a long gentle sloping tongue

mountain that run down from the hill to the
valley.

Meanders: Bends in a river channel. They are

formed from deposition and erosion.
Types of deltas
Fan-shaped bird foot
Estuarine