Paper 2 · River processes and landforms
As a meander loop develops over a long period of time, erosion narrows the neck of land between two loops of a river until the river cuts through it, leaving an abandoned loop behind. This cutting-through of the neck typically happens...
Aduring a drought, when the river dries up completely and its reduced flow can no longer maintain the shape of either loop.
Bduring a flood, when high water breaks through the narrowed neck.
Cwhen deposition completely fills the main channel, forcing the river to find an entirely new course around the blocked loop.
Dwhen a dam is built across the river and the still water behind it slowly buries the neck of land under sediment.
Explanation: The final breakthrough across a narrow meander neck usually occurs in flood conditions, when high discharge and energy are enough to cut the new, shorter course.
Derived from ZIMSEC Geography 2248/2 Paper 2, June 2013, Q1
