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A river transport its load (mud, sand, silt, boulders,dissolved
materials)in the following ways :
 | Suspension
 | movement of fine eroded materials(silt and clay)floating in water. |
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 | Solution
 | movement of minerals dissolved in water. |
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 | Saltation
 | process by which rock fragments like gravel and pebbles are lifted
briefly and then dropped on the river bed. They are thus transported in a series of hops
and jumps along the river bed. |
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 | Traction
 | movement of large rocks such as boulders by being rolled along the river
bed. |
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RIVER DEPOSITION
A river deposits its load of eroded materials when it is unable to
transport it. This occurs when :
there is not enough water to transport the load during a day season
a river flows across a desert where there is a high rate of evaporation.
a river flows across permeable rocks which allow water to infiltrate
into the underlying rocks.
a river carries a larger load than it can transport.
there is a sudden change in gradient (e.g. river leaves the mountain and
flows onto a plain)
a river flows into a lake or sea.
one side of the river is shallower than the other (e.g. the convex bank
of a meander)
there are aquatic plants or rocks obstructing the flow
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