Science Common Sense

250 - How do rivers and lakes affect the landscape?

Rivers and lakes greatly shape the landscape around them. Here are a few ways they do it:

1. Erosion: Rivers flow downhill and carry away rocks, soil, and sand, creating a path or channel through the landscape. This process is called erosion.

2. Deposition: As rivers flow, they carry the rocks and soil they've picked up. When the river slows down or flows into a lake, it drops these rocks and soil, creating new landforms like deltas or sandbars.

3. Creating Waterfalls and Canyons: As rivers flow over rocks or cliffs, they create waterfalls. Over time, these waterfalls wear away the rock, creating deep canyons.

4. Flooding and Plains: Rivers can overflow their banks and flood the surrounding area. This creates flat, fertile plains that are perfect for farming.

5. Lake Formation: Lakes are often formed when rivers are blocked by rocks, landslides, or other obstacles. They can also be created when tectonic plates move and form a basin.

Overall, rivers and lakes play a huge role in shaping the landscape, creating new landforms and changing the world around us.