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.

Find out more about river deposition.

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

Find out more about river deposition.

Water flows slowly over shallow areas (riffles) in the riverbed and faster through pools, deeper sections of the river. This leads to helicoidal flow that corkscrews from one bank to another. Fast flowing water on the outside bank causes lateral erosion through hydraulic action and abrasion which undercuts the bank, creating a river cliff. The eroded material is then deposited on the inside of the next meander where friction slows the flow, creating a slip-off slope.

Find out more about meanders and oxbow lakes.

Abrasion or corrasion, attrition, hydraulic action and solution or corrosion.

Find out more about river erosion.

Social:

• Safer from flooding due to the increased carrying capacity of the river so the risk of flooding to nearby settlements is reduced.
• Embankments are often used for walking routes which makes the embankment a more attractive walkway for local people.

Economic:

• Cheap compared to other methods of hard engineering

Environmental:

• Habitats are provided for riverbank animals such as otters, voles and kingfishers

Find out more about hard engineering.