Überschwemmungsformen

Überschwemmungsformen are geological features created by the action of floodwaters. These landforms are found in floodplains, river valleys, and coastal areas. They are a direct result of the erosional and depositional processes that occur during and after a flood event.

One common Überschwemmungsform is the oxbow lake. This is a crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander of a river is cut off. During floods, the river can change its course, leaving behind a detached meander that fills with water. Another significant feature is the natural levee. These are raised ridges of sediment that form along the banks of a river as floodwaters recede. As the water slows down upon reaching the bank, it deposits its heaviest sediment load, gradually building up these elevated landforms.

Alluvial fans are conical accumulations of sediment deposited by streams as they emerge from a narrow valley onto a flatter plain. These are particularly common in arid and semi-arid regions where flash floods are frequent. Deltas, formed at the mouth of a river where it enters a larger body of water, are also a type of Überschwemmungsform, characterized by the deposition of sediment carried by the river. Floodplains themselves are broad, flat areas of land bordering a river that are subject to flooding, and they are characterized by a variety of depositional features like point bars and backswamps. The continuous process of flooding and sediment redistribution shapes these dynamic landscapes.