1. The formation of an Ox-Bow Lake
The formation of an oxbow lake from start to finish.

2. How an Ox-Bow Lake Starts
An Ox-Bow Lake starts of as a meander (Bend in river) like this one.
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake

3. The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake
Firstly…
The meander is formed naturally but gets bigger because of the erosion of the river banks. The process is known as abrasion which is the load of the channel rubbing against the banks like sand paper. The first part of the meander is like the one below.
Meander
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake
Neck of Meander

4. The Narrowing of the Neck of the Meander
The Neck of the meander gradually becomes more eroded away again by abrasion. This becomes very narrow and is separated by a small piece of land
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake
Neck of Meander

5. Then
Then there is a `hoop` type feature, the river then deposits some of its load and then it isolates the hoop forming an oxbow lake.
Deposition Occurs Here
Island Created
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake

6. Finally…
Erosion again takes place again and gets the better of the land and erodes it away once again by the process called abrasion.
The small piece of land is eroded away or broken through and then the river starts off once again in a straight channel leaving the bend isolated from the rest of the river this is now known as an ox-bow lake.
The breaking through of the river often happens during times of flood particularly when the water is more powerful.
River continues straight
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake

7. After the Lake has been Formed
In some circumstances the oxbow lake dries up and leaves behind a meaner scar.
This is a Meander Scar
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake

8. The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake
Overview of Process
Start
Then
After
Finally
The Formation of an Ox-Bow Lake