Deposition is the processes by which a river drops or deposits the material it is carrying (also known as its load) either in the river channel or on floodplains.

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Deposition can occur:

• where a river enters a shallow area (this could be when it floods and comes into contact with the flood plain)
• at the base of a waterfall
• on the inside bend of a meander
• towards its mouth where it meets another body of water.

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Deposition occurs whenever a river loses energy and velocity falls.

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The velocity of a river reduces on the outside bend of a meander which leads to sediment being deposited. 

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Friction with the river bed and banks can reduce the velocity of the river leading to deposition. 

Find out more about river deposition.