Floodplain

rivers · geology · water

What gets flooded. A floodplain is the flat land that stretches from the edge of a river all the way out to the hills or mountains surrounding it. When heavy rain or melting snow makes the river swell, water spreads across this plain and covers it temporarily.

Built by rivers. Floodplains are created over thousands of years as rivers overflow and deposit layers of clay, silt, sand, and gravel. Each flood adds new material, slowly building up the flat landscape piece by piece.

Super fertile soil. Because floodplains get fresh layers of sediment and nutrients from floods, the soil there is incredibly rich and perfect for growing crops. Many civilizations throughout history built farms on floodplains because of this amazing fertility.

Nature's cycle. Floodplains are not disasters waiting to happen, they are a normal part of how rivers work. The flooding is actually healthy for the ecosystem and helps keep the river and the surrounding land in balance.