A large point bar can be seen to the left of the river channel. To the right of the channel is the cut bank. The river is eroding the cut bank as the meander loop migrates outward to the northeast. The characteristic features of a meandering river system are a highly sinuous channel, point bar deposits with opposing cut bank, and a wide floodplain containing abandoned channel segments. Figure 2 shows the major features of a meandering river floodplain.
Rivers are important parts of the hydrologic system because they return water to the ocean.
Rivers are also conduits for transporting sediment. The ability of a river to move sediment depends on the velocity of water in the river and the size of the sediment particles. Water moving at a low velocity can move only small fine particles such as clay, silt and sand. Water moving at a high velocity can move large coarse particles such as cobbles and boulders as well as small particles. Most river channels contain water flowing at several velocities.