-Usually starts off flowing quickly down steep slopes
-usually erode the earth quickly
-soft rock eroded quickly
-If faster flowing, erodes quicker
-Produces interlocking spurs
Middle or Maturity Stage
-Changes course more frequently
-Cuts into the banks on the outsides of the curves
-along the inside of the curves sediment is deposited
-when river washes back against a valley spur it cuts back against into a steep bank or bluff
-Oxbow lakes or loops are caused when changing course cuts off a meander.
-Will have received water from many tributaries
-Transport more sediment
How Materials are transported
-Lightest particles are suspended in water
-Heavier particles are bounced along river bottom
-Pebbles and heavy rocks are dragged along bottom
Old or Lower Stage
-old rivers meander slowly and aimlessly
-rivers deposit much of the loads they have carried through the mature stage
-the loads consist of light particles such as mud or sand this is called alluvium
-it is deposited along the river bed
-water level might be higher than that of the plain this is caused by the deposition of sediment causing high levees or banks
-sand and mud at the river mouth may be deposited and form a delta