Levees and Floodplains Flashcards

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Why are flood plains often very fertile?
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It’s made up of alluvium (deposited silt from a river flood).

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Why are flood plains often very fertile?
What is a levee?
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Levees are naturally raised riverbanks found along the sides of the river channel that has experienced flooding.

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

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What is a flood plain?
What are the characteristics of a flood plain?
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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

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What are the characteristics of a flood plain?
How is a flood plain formed?
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Floodplains form due to erosion and deposition. Erosion removes any interlocking spurs, creating a wide, flat area on either side of the river. During a flood, the material being carried by the river is deposited (as the river loses its speed and energy to transport material). Over time, the height of the floodplain increases as the material is deposited on either side of the river. The floodplain is often a wide, flat area caused by meanders shifting along the valley.

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How is a flood plain formed?




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