A river's looping bend is called what?

• A. A delta
• B. A floodplain
• C. A meander
• D. A canyon

Answer: (C)

Meanders are looping bends in a river channel. They form where the river’s flow is strong on the outside of a bend and slower on the inside. This causes erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner bank, making the bend migrate downstream and develop a characteristic sinuous path. Over time, these loops can become more pronounced and may even be cut through during floods to leave an oxbow lake. The other terms describe different features: a delta forms where the river enters a standing body of water, a floodplain is the broad flat area around the river subject to flooding, and a canyon is a deep, narrow valley carved by the river.