3 Stages of river development

 A river develops its long profile by head ward erosion while its cross profile is developed by lateral and vertical erosion.

Stages of river development

A river valley develops in three stages namely;

  • The youthful stage (young / upper course)

  • The mature stage or middle stage

  • The old stage / lower course

The youthful stage

This normally takes place in the upper section of the long profile of a river valley. It displays the following characteristics;

  • The river has a narrow v-shaped valley. In this case, the river covers the whole floor of the valley. The valley is made deep by vertical erosion.

  • The river has a steep gradient.

  • It flows at a very fast due to the steep gradient.

  • The river forms waterfalls and rapids

  • It has a small channel and many short tributaries.

  • Its characterized by landforms such as inter locking spurs, waterfalls, rapids, plunge pools, v-shaped valleys, etc. e.g. at river Nyamwamba on the slopes of mt. Rwenzori.

The middle stage

In the middle stage, a river develops mature features and the valley becomes due to lateral erosion. The middle or mature stage has the following characteristics;

  • The river occupies a more open valley (U-shaped valley)

  • The gradient of the river is lesser steeper and becomes more gentle.

  • The speed of the river reduces due to the reduced river gradient.

  • Meanders and river bends begin to develop.

  • The load consists of rounded boulders and small stones.

Generally, the mature stage is characterized by lateral erosion, transportation and deposition which makes the river to develop a gentle slope.

The old stage / senile stage of a river.

In the old stage. The river develops the following characteristics;

  • The river valley is very wide and flat forming a flood plain.

  • The river flows very slowly.

  • The main work of the river is that of deposition since it has very little energy.

  • The meanders are very pronounced.

  • Most of the load is composed of sand and small particles.

The landforms in this stage include flood plains, ox-bows, braided channels, deltas etc

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