A part of a river with regular bends.

Meanders on a river.

Meanders are commonly found on floodplains made of clay materials.

The meander continually changes shape as the fast flowing current of water erodes the outside bank of the meander bend, and deposition occurs in the slack water of the inside of the bend.

The pattern, shape and size of meanders varies with the steepness of the river course and the amount of water flowing.

Meanders can develop very pronounced loops, called oxbows, that can cut themselves off at their "necks," and form oxbow lakes.

This is a particular kind of meander, known as an oxbow. It is on the River Forth at Stirling, Scotland.