A landform formed by sediment deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake, usually with distributaries.

A landform formed by sediment deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake, usually with distributaries.

• A. Delta
• B. Estuary
• C. Floodplain
• D. Alluvial Fan

Answer: (A)

A delta forms when a river carries sediment to its mouth at the edge of an ocean or lake and the flow slows enough to deposit it. Over time, these deposits build outward into the water and often create multiple channels that branch off the main river, known as distributaries. This buildup of sediment at the river’s mouth is what creates the characteristic landform described. In contrast, an estuary is a tidal inlet where freshwater mixes with seawater, not a landform built primarily by sediment deposition; a floodplain is the flat, low-lying area formed by repeated floods along the river, not at the mouth; and an alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit that forms where a high-energy stream loses velocity at the base of a mountain, typically in arid regions.

A delta forms when a river carries sediment to its mouth at the edge of an ocean or lake and the flow slows enough to deposit it. Over time, these deposits build outward into the water and often create multiple channels that branch off the main river, known as distributaries. This buildup of sediment at the river’s mouth is what creates the characteristic landform described. In contrast, an estuary is a tidal inlet where freshwater mixes with seawater, not a landform built primarily by sediment deposition; a floodplain is the flat, low-lying area formed by repeated floods along the river, not at the mouth; and an alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit that forms where a high-energy stream loses velocity at the base of a mountain, typically in arid regions.