A flood plain is a large area of flat land on either side of the river that experiences or has experienced flooding.

Find out more about landforms in the lower course of the river.

Characteristics of a flood plain include:

• A large area of flat land either side of a river
• layers of alluvium cover the flood plain
• a river bluff along the edge of a flood plain
• meander scars
• levees
• rich, fertile soil
• reeds and marsh plants

Find out more about landforms in the lower course of the river.

It’s made up of alluvium (deposited silt from a river flood).

Find out more about landforms in the lower course of the river.

When a river floods friction with the floodplain leads to a rapid decrease in the velocity of the river and therefore its capacity to transport material.  Larger material is deposited closest to the river bank. This often leads to large, raised mounds being formed. Smaller material is deposited further away and leads to the formation of gently sloping sides of the levees.

Find out more about landforms in the lower course of the river.

Levees are naturally raised riverbanks found along the sides of the river channel that has experienced flooding.

Find out more about landforms in the lower course of the river.