V-Shaped Valley

Define

• V-Shaped Valley– A valley having a cross-sectional profile in the

form of the letter V, commonly produced by stream erosion. Also known as V valley.

The satellite image of the V-Shaped valley

the river

v-shaped valley

The side view of the V-Shaped Valley

V-shaped valley:

Steep gradient

river

Side view of V-shaped valleys

v -shaped valleys

Impacts on HumanAdvantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Blocks wind: cooler temperature in daytime and warmer temperature at night

Danger of avalanches and landslides

Easy access to the water Difficult accessibility in terms of transportation

Rich resources

Meanders – the middle course of River Cuckmere

Define

• Meander– A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous

watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a river erodes the outer banks and widens

Meanders

meanders

: curved river

flood plain

Meanders

Impacts on Human Advantages (Opportunities)

Disadvantages (limitations)

Create fertile soil on the floodplains

Dislocation of the land (agricultural land)

transportation Floods occur easily

trade

Levees on Mississippi River

• map

Define

• Levees– A levee, levée, dike (or dyke), embankment,

floodbank or stopbank is a natural or artificial slope or wall to regulate water levels

Levees

levees

The side view of the Levees

levees:

containing accumulated sands and rocks

River surface

Impacts on HumanAdvantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Natural protection against disaster such as floods

Stops the water to flow back to the river after flooding

Stops sea water to reclaim the land

Create fertile land after flooding

transportation

trade

Define

• Waterfall– A vertical stream of water that occurs where a

river or stream falls over the edge of a steep place

• E.g Yosemite Waterfall

Yosemite Waterfall

Plunge Pool

Hard rockSoft rock

Map

Satellite

Impacts on HumanAdvantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Tourism/recreation Dangerous

Provides freshwater Floods

Source of Energy (watermills and hydroelectric plants

Provided food and transportation

Define

• Deltas– a landform that is created at the mouth of a

river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river.

• E.g. Nile River Delta

Nile River Delta

Map

Satellite View

Impacts on HumanAdvantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Tourism/Development role economic obstacles

Provides freshwater Floods

Source of Energy

Provided food and transportation

Farming

Define

• Braided channels– Braided channels” means the intertwined

branches or secondary channels of a river or stream and characterized by the separation and rejoining.

• E.g. The Waimakariri River in New Zealand

Waimakariri River

Map

Map

Satellite View

Impacts on HumanAdvantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Tourism/Development role Floods

Provides freshwater

Source of Energy

Provided food and transportation

Fishing – Best Fishing

Rapids- by East Lendings (County Durham, Great Britain)

Relatively steep gradient-causes/increases turbulence and velocity of water

Rock steps along the shallower side of the rapid

Topographic map of the location

Rapids by East Lendings

Define

• Rapid– a part of a riverbed where the water moves

very fast, usually over rocks or around boulders

The satellite image of the rapid

rapids

Impacts on Humans

Advantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

Good for canoeists Rocky banks-dangerous for canoeists

Where it has rich agricultural area –it is a major processor and distributor of farm products

Fast river flow-Dangerous especially for other water activities eg. Crossing rivers/fishing

Floodplains-River Tay and its floodplain (Dalmarnock, UK)

area of land around a river channel which is formed during times of flood

Define

• Floodplains– an area of low-lying land across which a river

flows that is covered with sediment as a result of frequent flooding

Topographic map of the floodplains

floodplain

Rail tracks

channel

The satellite image of the flood plain

Impacts on Humans

Impacts on Humans

Advantages (Opportunities) Disadvantages (limitations)

water is most available the richness of the alluvial soil of floodplains are severely offset by frequent floods brought on by cyclones and annual monsoon rains

very fertile for farming causes severe economic disruption and loss of human life in this densely-populated region.

represent cheap sources of transportation, and are often where railroads are located

any alteration of the watershed upstream can potentially affect the ability of the watershed to handle water

potentially affects the levels of the periodic floods