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Upper Course
V-Shaped Valleys

In the upper course of a river, water flows quickly through a narrow channel with a steep gradient; as it does so it cuts downwards. This vertical erosion results in a number of distinctive landforms including the steep sloping v-shaped valley through which the river flows in its upper course.

How a v-shaped valley is formed:

1. Vertical erosion (in the form of abrasion, hydraulic action and solution) in the river channel results in the formation of a steep sided valley
2. Over time the sides of this valley are weakened by weathering processes and continued vertical erosion at the base of the valley
3. Gradually mass movement of materials occurs down the valley sides, gradually creating the distinctive v-shape.
4. This material is then gradually transported away by the river when there is enough energy to do so.

As the river flows through the valley it is forced to swing from side to side around more resistant rock outcrops (spurs). As there is little energy for lateral erosion, the river continues to cut down vertically flowing between spurs of higher land creating interlocking spurs.

Middle Course

Characteristics:

• Lateral erosion widens the valley profile.
• River bends become more pronounced producing meanders.
• A flood plain begins to form on the valley floor.
• The lateral erosion of the river truncates the interlocking spurs. The floor of the valley widens as the river on concave banks deposits material.
  

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 here.