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 ...

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 ...

A new Stanford study challenges the decades-old view that the rise of land plants half a billion years ago dramatically changed the shapes of rivers. Rivers generally come in two styles: braided, ...

Long after tectonic plate movement has created mountains, forces such as weather and river erosion can continue to shape a landscape. One such landscape is the Colorado Plateau, which spans more than ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. How do rivers choose their paths? Why do some rivers form single channels, while others divide into many threads? The questions ...