Asked by v

How do oxbow lakes form?

Rivers are dammed, and the water builds up, creating a lake.
Runoff pools in areas of low elevation, creating a temporary lake.
Rivers wear away banks until the bank is broken and the river flows straight.
Glaciers leave deep channels in the ground, which fill with water and become a lake.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Correct answer: "Rivers wear away banks until the bank is broken and the river flows straight."

Explanation: As a meandering river erodes the outer banks and deposits sediment on the inner banks, the neck of a meander becomes narrower. Eventually the river cuts through the neck (often during a flood), creating a new, straighter channel. The abandoned meander loop becomes an oxbow lake.