Which of the following is the primary stage in the formation of an ox-bow lake?
Answer Details
The primary stage in the formation of an ox-bow lake is a meander. A meander is a bend or curve in a river's course, and over time, the force of the water erodes the outer bank of the bend and deposits sediment on the inner bank. As the process continues, the meander becomes more pronounced, and the distance between the outer and inner banks becomes greater.
Eventually, the river erodes through the narrow strip of land, called the neck, that separates the meander from the main channel. This creates a new, straighter channel for the river, leaving behind a U-shaped lake that is no longer connected to the main channel. This U-shaped lake is known as an ox-bow lake.
So, the meander is the primary stage because it is the initial bend in the river that begins the process of erosion and deposition that eventually leads to the formation of an ox-bow lake.