braided stream
Interlacing river channels
A braided stream is a river or creek that splits into multiple interwoven channels separated by small, often temporary islands of sediment.
The channels repeatedly divide and rejoin, creating a pattern that resembles a braid.
Braided streams typically form in areas with highly variable water flow and abundant loose sediment: The glacier's meltwater spread across the valley floor in a braided stream.
- braided riverMulti-channel stream with shifting bars
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- channelPassage for transmission
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
- sand barsUnderwater sediment ridges
sediment · delta · flood plain · floodplain · tributary · weave · sandbar · glacier · glacial melt · meltwater · alluvial · alluvial fan · river delta · rivulet · intertwined · tangled · shifting · dry season