- A floodplain is
Land adjacent to a stream / river
Near a river/stream which floods when the water level reaches flood stage.
- That stretches from the banks of its channel.
- Flood plains are made by a meander.
- When a river breaks its banks & floods, it leaves behind layers of rock and mud.
- Floodplains generally contain unconsolidated sediments.
- Extending below the bed of the stream.
- These are accumulations of :
sand gravel
loam silt/clay
- The floodplain during its formation is marked by meandering or an astomotic streams:
ox-bow lakes
bayous
marshes/stagnant pools
Historically, many towns have been built on floodplains, where they are highly susceptible to flooding, for a number of reasons:
- access to fresh water;
- the fertility of floodplain land for farming;
- cheap transportation, via rivers and railroads, which often followed rivers;
- ease of development of flat land
