Geography
How River Meanders Migrate and Shape Floodplain Evolution
Quick fact
The Mississippi River has shortened itself by about 60 miles over the past few centuries due to meander cutoffs, and some of its bends migrate tens of feet per year.
Why this is interesting
You've probably seen a winding river from a plane, but did you know that those curves are actually on a slow journey across the land? Over decades and centuries, a river's bends can shift dramatically, carving new paths and reshaping the entire valley.