A river delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river, where the river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, or reservoir. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river. Over long periods of time, this deposition builds the characteristic geographic pattern of a river delta.
Contrary to popular belief, this usage of the word delta was not coined by Herodotus.
Read more about River Delta: Formation, Types of Deltas, Sedimentary Structure, Deltas and Alluvial Fans, Examples of Notable Deltas, Ecological Threats To Deltas, Deltas in The Economy, Deltas On Mars
Famous quotes containing the word river:
“Hard by the lilied Nile I saw
A duskish river dragon stretched along.
The brown habergeon of his limbs enamelled
With sanguine alamandines and rainy pearl:
And on his back there lay a young one sleeping,
No bigger than a mouse;”
—Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803–1849)