How do rivers choose their paths? Why do some rivers form single channels, while others divide into many threads? The questions may sound simple, but they are plagued by dynamic and complex forces ...

Rivers are not fixed in place but rather tend to shift across the landscape. As they travel, they sow the seeds for diverse and productive ecosystems—forests, wetlands and floodplains—to emerge and ...

The water pressure of a river can cut deep into a riverbed. Sediments from the riverbed are carried downstream, creating a deep, narrow channel. This process, known as downcutting, represents the ...