kõrvalekaldete
Kõrvalekaldete, also known as oxbow lakes or meanders, are landforms that occur when a river changes its course due to erosion and deposition. These features are typically found in floodplains and are characterized by their crescent shape, with the convex side facing upstream. Kõrvalekaldete are formed as a river erodes the outer banks of a meander bend, causing the river to cut off the bend and create a new, straighter channel. The abandoned bend becomes an oxbow lake, which may eventually fill with sediment and vegetation, becoming a wetland or marsh.
The process of oxbow lake formation is a natural part of the river's evolution and helps to
The study of oxbow lakes and their formation is an important aspect of geomorphology and river ecology.