A meandering stream has a single channel that winds snakelike through its valley, so that the distance 'as the stream flows' is greater than 'as the crow flies. ' As water flows around these curves, the outer edge of water is moving faster than the inner.

What causes meanders in a stream?

Meanders are produced when water in the stream channel erodes the sediments of an outer bend of a streambank and deposits this and other sediment on subsequent inner bends downstream.

What happens when a meandering stream floods?

Meandering streams are characterized by very sinuous channels. ... When the tightly curved portion of the stream is cut off, an oxbow lake develops off from the main river system. This lake is eventually filled by sediment through river flooding. A Floodplain is a wide, flat or nearly flat land over which the stream moves.