S5 Physical Geography: River Valleys and Drainage Systems

These physical geography notes explain river channels, drainage basins and the processes of erosion, transportation and deposition. They describe river profiles and the characteristics of youthful, mature and old river stages. Topics include waterfalls, gorges, potholes, meanders, flood plains, levees, braided channels, oxbow lakes and deltas. Examples draw mainly on rivers in Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa. Study questions invite learners to explain landform formation and assess the importance of deltas. Some diagram instructions refer readers to an external textbook.