A knee, or river knee, is a bend in a river changing its course significantly within a short distance to a different  direction (in an angle of around 90 degrees). It is different from a riverbend which is a single isolated bend , and from a meander which consists of several bends in a sinuous course, both without changing the river's main course. In European history, many river knees have proven to be strategically favorable locations to found  cities. Many rivers have significant bends due to geological reasons : the Rhine knee in Basel, Switzerland , the river's most significant knee - other knees appear in German cities Wiesbaden and Bingen the Danube knee in Vác, Hungary  the Volga knee at Volgograd, Russia the  Rhône knee at Martigny, Switzerland the Petitcodiac knee at Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, locally known as Le Coude , in English erroneously called "the Bend" The Indus in India. Brahmaputra Furthermore, some riverbends are called "knees" although they are actually single bends or a part of meanders :
A knee, or river knee, is a bend in a river changing its course greatly, suddenly to a different general direction (in an angle of around 90 degrees). It is different from most (one-off) riverbends , and from a (particular) meander which connotes one of of several bends in a sinuous course, without changing the general direction. Those set in relative upland, large-vessel navigable or arid drainage basins were (as with major confluences) for trade and defence favorable to found forts, governing army camps or cities. Many major world rivers have such a notable knee close to major settled places : the Rhine knee in Basel, Switzerland is the river's greatest knee – others are in German cities Wiesbaden and Bingen the Danube knee in Vác, Hungary (35 km north of Budapest) the Volga knee at Volgograd, Russia the upper Rhône knee at Martigny, Switzerland the Petitcodiac knee at Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, locally known as Le Coude The Irawaddy knee at Mandalay Some riverbends are in some places referred to "knees" but are bends largely unaffecting the course or a small sharp meander :
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significantly within a short distance
greatly, suddenly
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general
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a riverbend which is a single isolated bend
most (one-off) riverbends
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meander which consists of
(particular) meander which connotes one of of
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both
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river's main course. In European history, many river knees have proven to be strategically favorable locations to found
general direction.
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Those set in relative upland, large-vessel navigable or arid drainage basins were (as with major confluences) for trade and defence favorable to found forts, governing army camps or
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rivers have significant bends due to geological reasons
major world rivers have such a notable knee close to major settled places
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,
is
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most significant knee - other knees appear
greatest knee – others are
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(35 km north of Budapest)
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upper
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, in English erroneously called "the Bend" The Indus in India. Brahmaputra
The Irawaddy knee at Mandalay
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Furthermore, some riverbends are called
Some riverbends are in some places referred to
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although they are actually single bends or a part of meanders
but are bends largely unaffecting the course or a small sharp meander