Les 4 - §2.3

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The catchment area of the Rhine

Planning

• Start of the river
• Upper, Middle, and lower reaches of the Rhine
• Homework

Upper reaches

• River has a high gradient
• Water flows fast
• Good for hydro-electricity
• Erosion, but little sedimentation

Middle reaches

• Lower gradient
• Broader river
• Both erosion and sedimentation

How do rivers work?

The 'goal' of a river is to find the sea as quick as possible

How do rivers work?

Sometimes it meets obstacles

How do rivers work?

It can sometimes go around the obstacle

How do rivers work?

If the river can't go around it will form a lake

How do rivers work?

If the lake gets big enough the river will go through the mountains

How do rivers work?

The lake will eventually disappear if and the river forms a gorge

Lower reaches

• Low gradient
• The speed of the river is slow
• More sedimentation than erosion
• Meanders

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Lower reaches

• Low gradient
• The speed of the river is slow
• More sedimentation than erosion
• Meanders

Lower reaches

• Low gradient
• The speed of the river is slow
• More sedimentation than erosion
• Meanders
• Oxbow lakes

Mouth of the river

• Where the river meets the sea
• Lots of sedimentation
• formation of land

Homework

• Read §2.3
• 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7
• Get to work

Next lesson: Introduction practical assignment