Question

In which of the following stages of a river are meanders formed commonly?

• A. youthful age
• B. mature age
• C. old age
• D. both mature and youthful age

Hint:

Meanders are a feature of lateral erosion, which dominates during the mature stage of a river's life cycle.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The formation of meanders is a fascinating process in the lifecycle of a river, typically occurring in the mature stage. Here's why:

• Youthful stage: In this stage, rivers tend to be steep and fast-flowing, primarily focusing on vertical erosion to cut through landscapes, creating narrow valleys and not meanders.
• Mature stage: As a river progresses into its mature stage, it experiences reduced gradient and increased volume of water. The river begins to erode laterally, rather than vertically, due to a moderate slope, allowing it to create wide, sweeping bends called meanders.
• Old age: During this stage, the river has a very low gradient and flows slowly across a very flat plain, depositing sediments that have been carried from upstream. Here, oxbow lakes and extensive floodplains might form, but new meanders are less common.

Considering the features and processes of each stage, the correct answer is mature age where meanders are commonly formed.