Rivers in our valley were not always in the same place. When rivers change their path, they change their course. The old path may become a slough . Sometimes rivers wander around and make large curves. They meander .
Rivers usually meander when the land is very flat.
Looking at the Chena River is interesting. One bank is higher than the other in many places. The higher bank is called a cutbank . This is where the fast water is. The water level changes a lot.