What are river landforms?

River landforms refer to the various physical features that result from the natural processes of erosion, deposition, and sediment transport that occur within river systems. These processes shape the landscape over time, creating a variety of landforms such as valleys, floodplains, deltas, and meanders.

The significance of these landforms lies in their impact on the environment and human activities. For instance, deltas form where rivers meet larger bodies of water, leading to fertile areas that are often ideal for agriculture, while meanders indicate the dynamic nature of rivers as they carve through the terrain. Each landform represents specific stages in the river's lifecycle and illustrates how rivers interact with their surroundings.

Other options do not encompass the full scope of what river landforms are. Artificial structures along rivers are built for various purposes and do not represent natural landforms. Limiting the definition to only the banks of rivers would exclude many important features shaped by river activity. Additionally, while some river areas can be suitable for irrigation, this is not a defining characteristic of river landforms themselves.