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A braided channel is a type of channel that is divided into smaller sub-channels by small,

temporary islands called eyots. Braided channels develop in rivers with a lot of sedimentary
load, a steep gradient and where the discharge of the river changes regularly. When the volume
of load exceeds the rivers capacity or the discharge of the river drops, the river is forced to
deposit its load in the channel and islands of sediment (eyots) form.

Braiding occurs when the river is forced to split into several channels separated by islands. It is a feature if rivers that
are supplied with large loads of sand and gravel. It is most likely to occur when a river has variable discharges. The
banks formed from sand and gravel are generally unstable and easily eroded. As a consequence, the channel
becomes very wide in relation to its depth. The river can become choked, with several sandbars and channels that
are constantly changing their locations.
Braiding also occurs in environments in which there are rapidly fluctuating discharges:
1. Semi arid areas of low relief that receive rivers from mountainous area
2. Glacial stremas with variable annual discharge. In spring, meltwater causes river discharge and competence to
increase, therefore the river can transport more particles. As the temperature drops and the river level falls, the load
is deposited as islands of deposition in the channel.

Floodplains are created as a result of both erosion and deposition, although the accumulation of river deposits
suggests that they are predominately depositional features. They are relatively flat areas of land either side of the
river, which form the valley floor in the middle and lower courses of the river. They are composed of alluvium - river
deposited silts and clays. Over time, a floodplain becomes wider and the depth of sediment accretions increases. The
width of the floodplain is determined by the amount of meander migration and lateral erosion that has taken place.
Lateral erosion is most powerful just downstream of the apex of the meadner bend. Over time, this results in the
migration of meanders, leaving their scars clearly visisble on the floodplain. Interlocking spurs are eventually removed
by lateral erosion in the middle course, leaving behind a bluff line and widening the valley. the depth of the alluvial
deposits depends partly on the amount of flooding in the past, so floodplain creation is linked to extreme events. Over
time, point bars and old meanders scars become incorporated into the floodplain, adding to the alluvial deposits.
These become stabalised by vegetation as the meanders migrate and abandon

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