What is a river delta?
A delta is a low plain built from sediment deposited where a river enters a sea or lake.
Definition and processes
Core concept As a river slows on entering standing water, it drops sand, silt and clay. A delta can grow where sediment supply exceeds removal by waves, tides and currents. How it is studied Satellite images reveal distributaries, shorelines and changes over time. Floods, channel shifts, sediment supply and sea level reshape the landform.
Applications and caveats
Why it matters Deltas may host farmland and wetlands, but are exposed to floods and coastal erosion. Upstream dams can cut sediment reaching the coast. Common misunderstandings Not every river mouth forms a delta; strong currents can remove deposits. Deltas are not always triangular.
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