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.

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

Formation of a waterfall

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.

Hard engineering involves the use of heavy machinery to build artificial structures which work against nature to reduce flood risk.

Find out more about hard engineering.

It becomes narrow and steep-sided in the upper course due to vertical erosion.

Find out more about the long profile of a river.

A valley cross-profile includes the channel, the valley floor and the sides of the valley.

Find out more about the cross profile of a river.