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:
“There are knives that glitter like altars
In a dark church
Where they bring the cripple and the imbecile
To be healed.
There’s a woden block where bones are broken,
Scraped clean—a river dried to its bed”
—Charles Simic (b. 1938)