Mäanderläufe

Mäanderläufe, also known as meandering rivers, are naturally occurring river channels characterized by a series of sinuous curves. These curves, or meanders, form over time as a river flows across a relatively flat floodplain. The process begins with a slight irregularity in the riverbank. Water flowing at a faster velocity on the outside of a bend erodes the bank, causing it to curve outwards. Conversely, water flowing more slowly on the inside of the bend deposits sediment, building up a point bar.

Over extended periods, this erosion and deposition cycle causes the meanders to grow larger and more pronounced. Rivers are constantly shifting their courses, and meanders can become so extreme that they eventually cut off, forming oxbow lakes. Oxbow lakes are crescent-shaped bodies of water that are no longer connected to the main river channel. The presence of well-developed mäanderläufe is indicative of a mature river system that has had a long time to develop its channel morphology. These features are common in low-gradient environments where the river has sufficient energy to transport sediment but not enough to create a straighter, more incised channel. The formation and evolution of meanders are fundamental concepts in fluvial geomorphology.