L.O. To be able to identify the different parts of a river.
Rivers
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake,
a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up
completely before reaching another body of water.
In South Africa:
Several small rivers run into the sea along the South African coastline, but none are
navigable. There are two major rivers in South Africa: the Limpopo, a stretch of which is
shared with Zimbabwe, and the Orange (with its tributary the Vaal) which run in variable
flow across the central landscape from east to west, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the
Namibian border.
Now copy illustration on page 82 Geog 1
The river and its journey
The source is the starting point of the river. It could be a spring, a lake, a melting glacier, or
a marshy area where a lot of rain collects.
Smaller rivers join the main one. They are called tributaries.
The point where two rivers join is called the confluence.
All rivers flow down towards sea level, even if they don’t reach the sea.
The watershed is an imaginary line that separates one drainage basin from another.
The river is fed by rain that falls in the area. This area of land containing the river and its
tributary is called a drainage basin or river basin.
Common exam questions may ask you to
Illustrate and/or label the different parts of a river.
Explain the definitions
L.O. To be able know how materials are transported in a river.
Erosion, Transportation and Deposition of material
Rivers pick up or erode materials from one place, carry or transport it to another place and
then drop or deposit the material.
The stones and soil which have been eroded are called the river’s load. A lot of energy is
needed to transport this load. Rivers transport the load in 4 different ways
Traction heaviest rocks and boulders are rolled along the river bed during floods
Saltation the flow of water bounces stones and pebbles along the river bed.
Suspension small pieces of eroded soil floats in the river
Solution minerals like calcium carbonate in limestone are dissolved by water.
The river slows down when it reaches flatter land; it no longer has the energy to carry the
load and deposits it. This deposited material is called sediment.
L.O. To be able to identify the different parts of a river
Different parts of the river
Rivers are usually looked at as having three parts or courses
Common exam questions may ask you to
Explain the definitions
Illustrate and explain different transportation methods?
Explain how rivers affect the landscape?
Upper course
This is the highest section which is found in the mountains or hills. Here the river erodes a vshaped valley, the path is fairly straight and it flows downhill steeply. The landforms that are
common in this course of the river are waterfalls and gorges.
Middle Course
In the middle course the angle that the river flows down is less steep, the river begins to
meander and the valley sides are also less steep. Common landforms here are river beaches
and river cliffs.
Lower course
The lower course has the gentlest slopes- both in long profile and across the valley floor.
This almost flat land is known as the flood plain. The river may have very large meanders
and ox-bow lakes. The mouth of a river is when it reaches open water- either a lake or the
sea. Under certain conditions a delta can be found there.
Possible questions that may be asked:
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Describe the different parts of a river.
Label the sections (upper, middle and lower course.
List features of the different parts of a river.
L.O. To be able to identify the landforms in the upper and middle course of the river.
Upper course landforms
Waterfalls are most common in the upper course. They are formed when a river crosses a
layer of harder rock. This layer is eroded more slowly than the softer rock beneath it.
Eventually a step in the profile of the river is formed. At the base of the waterfall the falling
water erodes the softer rock and an overhang develops. Eventually the overhang will
collapse. These rocks are swirled around at the base and erode the softer rock, creating a
plunge pool.
Each time the rock overhangs collapses the waterfall retreat. Over years the steep sided
valley, called a gorge will be created.
LANDFORMS OF THE UPPER STAGE
V-shaped valleys and interlocking spurs
V-SHAPED VALLEYS
Are formed in the upper stage of the river. Here the river is eroding
downwards into its bed and not sideways (laterally). This leads to a steepsided valley. As this vertical erosion continues it weakens the valley sides
and this plus weathering making the sides even steeper.
INTERLOCKING SPURS
The youthful river does not have a huge amount of energy in its upper
stage. Therefore when it comes to obstacles such as large rocks, boulders
and other areas of hard rock (i.e. the valley sides) it twists around them.
This creates interlocking spurs which look like the opposite sides of the
valley fit together like a zip!
Common exam questions may ask you to:
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Mark these features on a diagram that they give you
Explain how, where and why they form (perhaps asking you to draw labelled diagrams
Say what type of erosion may be happening to create such landforms.
Middle course landforms
Features found in the middle course are river cliffs and river beaches. A river cliff is found on
the outside of a meander. Here the water is flowing quickly into the bank. The current is
able to erode the side of the river and it makes a steep bank or river cliff.
On the inside of the band the water is flowing much more slowly. It has less power to
transport its load and deposition will take place. The shallow water and gentle slope on the
inside of the bend is a river beach.
L.O. To be able to identify the landforms found in the lower course of a river.
Lower course landforms
The lower course has the widest rivers and the largest meanders. The river is most likely to
flood in this section and when it does a short cut can be formed. The river will flow through
the shorter route leaving the curve of the meander cut off. This is known as an ox-bow lake.
L.O. To be able to identify the land use in the different parts of the river
Land use - upper course
The land is the highest, steepest and most exposed. The weather in this part of the valley is
colder, wetter, windier and more humid. Snow is sometimes present and soils are often
acidic and waterlogged. All these limitations make it difficult to make use of the land.
Farming is extensive, with forestry, hill sheep and deer stalking being common uses.
Building and transport links are rare. This lack of development makes the area attractive for
hikers and rock climbers, and in some area the highest parts can be used for winter sports
like snowboarding and skiing. The heavy rain does make the land suitable for reservoirs and
the fast flowing water can be dammed to make hydroelectric power stations.
Land use - middle course
The land is getting lower, less steep and the climate is less extreme. This allows for greater
use of the valley. Arable farming (land can be used for growing crops) is possible. The land is
suitable for building, so we will find villages and small towns here. The flatter and wider
valley floor may have a road and even rail transport links. Forestry is carried out where the
soil is not suitable for farming. Population density here is greater than in the upper course.
Land use- lower course
Here the land is low, flat or very gently sloping, and the temperatures are warmest. The soils
are often deep and fertile and so the land is best suited to intensive agriculture with arable
farms and market gardens. Close to the river the land may be marshy or at risk from
flooding and is therefore kept as permanent pasture for livestock.
The largest settlements and greatest concentration of road and rail links are found in the
lower course. The largest industrial areas, which need good communications, many workers
and large areas of flat land, are also located here. This part of a river valley has the greatest
population density.
Common exam questions may ask you to:
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Describe the land use in the different parts of the river?
Compare the terrain of the different sections of the river and explain what it can be used for?