Meanders and Oxbow Lakes

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Meanders are back forth motion of an old river as it cuts across the river valley side to side. Meanders are characterized by large looping channels. Oxbow lakes are created when meanders cut through there channel at the thinnest point between two point banks. This breech in the channel creates a loop shape lake often referred to as a oxbow lake. Oxbow lakes eventually fill in and create fertile farm land.