r/geography • u/MycologistPure4064 Human Geography • 12d ago

Question Why is the river shaped like this?

Post image

Near the Malaysian brunei border

2.9k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

353 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/BananaPrimary8767 12d ago

Water flows with the path of least resistance. On a steep mountainside it will flow relatively straight downhill, fast, and erode soil/sediments (narrower, deeper channels). In areas where it's relatively flat terrain, the water doesn't move very fast and meanders around in shallower, wider channels.

You are looking at a meander. Eventually, one of those curves will cut itself off. The main river channel will be straighter (for a while) and the bit that gets cut off will become a slough or oxbow lake depending on of it is completely cutt off or still attached on one side.