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What is the middle course of a river?

A river begins at the source, has a narrow and steep upper course and then a middle course. The middle course is wide and deep with fast flowing water.

In this article you can learn about:

  • Features of a river's middle course
  • The impact of erosion and deposition
  • How meanders and oxbow lakes are formed
  • Beavers in Scotland

This resource is suitable for Landscapes topics for primary school learners.

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Video - Middle course of the River Tay

Join Isla and Connor as they explore the middle course of the River Tay.

Watch this short video to find out about the features of a river's middle course.

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What is a river?

  • A river is a moving body of water that flows from its into another body of water, like the sea.
  • A river is split into three parts: the upper course, middle course and lower course.
The Helmsdale River meandering through Strath of Kildonan
Image caption,
After the steep upper course, the middle course flows across land. The middle course features lots of bends (meanders), which you can see in this photograph of the Helmsdale River.
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What is the middle course of a river?

  • The middle course has more energy and more water than the river's steep narrow upper course.
  • It is wide and deep. Lots of flow into the middle course, adding extra water to the river channel.
  • A larger river channel means there is less , so the water flows faster.
  • Water flows fastest on the outer banks of the river and slower on the inside.
  • Fast-flowing water the outer banks. Slow-moving water materials, like sand and sediments, on the inner banks.
  • This process of erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner bank helps to create features like and .

Physical features of the middle course of a river

This slideshow shows some examples of middle course features.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 2, River cliff and slip off slope on a meander, Meanders A meander is a large bend in a river. Water flows fastest on the outside of the bend and slower on the inside of the bend. Fast water erodes a steep river cliff on the outside of the bend (on the left in the picture). Slow water deposits sand and silt, making a gently sloping river beach on the inside of the bend (on the right in the picture).
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River wildlife: Beavers in Scotland

In the video at the top of the page, Isla spotted a beaver on the River Tay. Let's find out more about beavers in Scotland.

  • The Eurasian Beaver is the second largest rodent species in the whole world.
  • Beavers mainly like to live in freshwater systems like rivers, streams, lochs and ponds.
  • They are a native species to the UK, which means they naturally lived here without humans getting involved. They were hunted to extinction hundreds of years ago but were successfully reintroduced to the UK in 2009.
  • Beavers are famous for their engineering skills. They dig in the banks of rivers and ponds, which they use to transport food and building materials. These canals can also be used by other animals, like water voles.
  • Beavers are also known for building dams and lodges to keep them safe from .
Beaver on the River Ericht
Image caption,
Beaver on the River Ericht near Blairgowrie
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Key words sticker

Key words about a river's middle course

  • Scottish outdoor access code - A set of Government guidelines about our rights and responsibilities when visiting Scotland's outdoors.
  • middle course - The section of the river which comes between the upper and lower course. It is usually wider and deeper than the upper course and the water flows slowly.
  • tributary - A stream or river that flows into another stream or river instead of flowing into the sea. They add lots of water to the main river, which makes it wider and deeper.
  • burn - A large stream or small river. This word is commonly used in Scotland and some parts of England.
  • erosion - When a material, like rock, wears away over time. The powerful water in a river's upper course causes lots of erosion in the landscape.
  • deposition - When water loses energy, it drops the material it has been carrying, like sand and gravel.
  • meander - A bend in the river caused by erosion and deposition.
  • oxbow lake - A U-shaped lake that forms when meanders meet each other. The river water breaks through forming a new channel. The meander gets blocked off with sand and gravel and becomes an oxbow lake.
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Test your knowledge

Quiz

Try this short multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge of the middle course.

Challenge

Challenge

Design a poster which will help other children understand the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code is a set of Government guidelines about our rights and responsibilities when visiting Scotland's outdoors.

The three main rules are:

  • respecting the interests of other people
  • caring for the environment
  • taking responsibility for your own actions

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Your poster should be eye-catching and should include important information. What information do you think this poster needs?
  • Think about your audience. Who is this poster for?
  • How will the look and style of your poster catch your audience's attention? What will your text look like? What kind of pictures could you use?

If you need help with your poster, you can learn more here: How to make a poster

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