Geography • Physical GeographyMedium
What is the primary process responsible for the formation of an oxbow lake?
A. Glacial scouring and subsequent melting of trapped ice blocks in lowlands
B. Lateral erosion and deposition in a meandering river leading to the neck cutoff of a loop✓ Correct Answer
C. Tectonic subsidence along fault lines capturing river drainage
D. Wave-induced deposition forming a barrier spit across a river mouth
💡 Solution & Explanation
An oxbow lake is formed through continuous lateral erosion along the outer banks and sediment deposition along the inner banks of a meandering river, eventually causing the neck of the loop to be cut off during high floods. The abandoned meander loop transforms into a crescent-shaped standalone water body isolated from the main river channel. Other options involving glacial action or tectonic faulting describe entirely different geomorphic landforms.
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