Fluvial Landform (13. FloodPlain)

                                                                                                                                                      Back to Fluvial Landform

•  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