River landforms
Aquifer
A ridge or other line of separation between
two catchment basins or drainage systems.
Catchment
The raised banks which may be found along the
sides of a river channel.
Delta
A vertical drop of water in a river or stream.
Drainage basin
A narrow steep-sided valley that may or may
not have a river flowing through it.
Estuary
A sudden change in the smooth, concave long
profile of a river.
Floodplain
A small eroded hollow in the rock bed of a
river.
Gorge
An underground layer of water-bearing
permeable rock of rock through which large
amounts of water can flow and be stored.
Interlocking spurs
A horseshoe-like loop in a river caused by
lateral erosion.
Knick-point
A deep pool formed at the bottom of a
waterfall.
Levee
An area where a river’s mouth widens into the
sea. Tidal effects are felt and the fresh river
water is mixed with salt water.
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River landforms
Long profile
The area from which water is collected by a
river and its tributaries. This can also be called
a drainage basin.
Meander
A low-lying area on either side of a river which
will be flooded if the river discharge has
exceeded the channel capacity.
Ox-bow lake
A linear depression between two areas of
higher ground. A river usually flows through it
although dry examples occur which lack a river.
Plunge pool
The area of land drained by a river and its
tributaries. This can also be called a catchment
area.
Pothole
The line showing the decreasing height with
distance from the source.
River cliff
A landform built when a river enters a lake or
the sea. The lack of velocity causes the river to
deposit its load.
Tributary
A steep slope on the outer bank of a meander.
It is formed by the undercutting of the river
current.
Waterfall
A curved lake formed on the flood plain of a
river when a meander has been cut through in a
flood. The river has subsequently followed a
shorter steeper river channel.
Watershed
A series of ridges of land, similar to the teeth of
a zip, which jut out from alternate sides of a
river valley.
Valley
A stream or river which has joined a larger
river.
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River landforms
Teaching notes
This resource could be used in a variety of ways depending on the ability of the class. If the cards
are laminated, they could then be reused many times.
Possible approaches could be:

Separate the cards into 40 individual cards and then match the shaded key word (s) to the
definition.

Separate the cards into 20 paired cards. Use these cards as a dominoes game.

Separate the cards into 20 paired cards. Use these as a loop game around the class. The
loop game could be repeated against the clock after reissuing the cards, to measure
progress.
Answers
Aquifer
An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock
of rock through which large amounts of water can flow
and be stored.
Catchment
The area from which water is collected by a river and its
tributaries. This can also be called a drainage basin.
Delta
A landform built when a river enters a lake or the sea.
The lack of velocity causes the river to deposit its load.
Drainage basin
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.
This can also be called a catchment area.
Estuary
An area where a river’s mouth widens into the sea.
Tidal effects are felt and the fresh river water is mixed
with salt water.
Floodplain
A low-lying area on either side of a river which will be
flooded if the river discharge has exceeded the channel
capacity.
Gorge
A narrow steep-sided valley that may or may not have a
river flowing through it.
Interlocking spurs
A series of ridges of land, similar to the teeth of a zip,
which jut out from alternate sides of a river valley.
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012
19085
Page 3 of 4
River landforms
Knick-point
A sudden change in the smooth, concave long profile of a
river.
Levee
The raised banks which may be found along the sides of
a river channel.
Long profile
The line showing the decreasing height with distance
from the source.
Meander
A horseshoe-like loop in a river caused by lateral
erosion.
Ox-bow lake
A curved lake formed on the flood plain of a river when
a meander has been cut through in a flood. The river
has subsequently followed a shorter steeper river
channel.
Plunge pool
A deep pool formed at the bottom of a waterfall.
Pothole
A small eroded hollow in the rock bed of a river.
River cliff
A steep slope on the outer bank of a meander. It is
formed by the undercutting of the river current.
Tributary
A stream or river which has joined a larger river.
Waterfall
A vertical drop of water in a river or stream.
Watershed
A ridge or other line of separation between two
catchment basins or drainage systems.
Valley
A linear depression between two areas of higher ground.
A river usually flows through it although dry examples
occur which lack a river.
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012
19085
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