Geography
Why River Meanders Migrate Across Floodplains Over Time
Quick fact
In the Mississippi River, some meanders have migrated visibly over decades, occasionally cutting off to form crescent-shaped oxbow lakes that remain on the floodplain as evidence of the river's older paths.
Why this is interesting
A river that looks fixed and permanent in one snapshot can shift its entire course over decades. How does a seemingly calm channel slowly carve a new path across its floodplain?