Key learning points

1. The width and depth of rivers get larger and the river gets faster as it flows from source to mouth.
2. The rocks in the river usually get smaller as the river flows downstream.
3. Landforms like waterfalls are usually found in the upper course of a river.
4. Landforms like meanders and floodplains are found in the middle and lower course of a river.

Keywords

• Course - The course of a river is the path it takes from its source at the start to its mouth at the end

• Downstream - Downstream is the direction a river flows as it moves towards the mouth

• Tributary - A tributary is a smaller river or stream that joins a bigger river

• Landform - A landform is a natural feature created by a process such as erosion or deposition

Common misconception