River features and land uses vary along the course of a river. Conflicts can arise between the different land uses and solutions must be adopted to minimise these disputes.
As well as explaining the formation of river features, you also need to be able to describe the physical features of a river and its valley using an Ordnance Survey map.
The map extract shows the River Cree in south-west Scotland. We will take a journey along the river describing the main physical features - remember that this means natural features not man-made ones!
In the OS map extract featuring the River Cree:
At 400670 the River Cree joins the map. It is flowing in a south-easterly direction. We know this because the river gets wider as it nears the estuary/mouth of the river.
At 410664 a tributary joins the river at a confluence. The river now flows south around an island. The valley is relatively narrow (you can see contour lines close to the river on both sides).
At 416647 the river becomes tidal. We know this because the edge of the river changes from blue to black.
At 417642 there is a meander. The river valley now broadens out to more than two kilometres wide, covering two grid squares.
At 422641 the river begins a series of large meanders. There is an embankment on the south bank of the river - this could be a natural levee.
The neck of the meander at 425637 could eventually be broken through by the river to form an oxbow lake.
At 429640 the river starts to widen and mud/silt is showing in its bed.
Many tributaries now join the river - 434623 (the Brushy Burn) 441627 (The Lane) 453624 (Palnure Burn).
The river is now flowing in a very flat, wide and low-lying valley (7m and 5m spot heights). This has resulted in marsh land at 452612, 456606 and 465590.