Large meanders — winding bends formed by lateral erosion
Oxbow lakes formed in some areas where meanders are cut off
Evidence of past flooding in naturally formed levees
Floodplain develops — flat fertile land either side of river
Lower course — Teesside estuary
Where the River Tees meets the North Sea at Middlesbrough/Teesside
Creates a large estuary — tidal, wider, slower
Mudflats formed — later reclaimed for industrial development (oil refineries)
Deposition dominant — river loses energy as gradient decreases to near zero
Exam questions — 2 questions · 10 marks
⚡ Geography exam tip: Always use named examples with specific data. "An earthquake in Nepal" scores fewer marks than "The 2015 Nepal earthquake (magnitude 7.9, 9,000 deaths)." Learn the statistics on this page.
1 markHigh Force formation
Why does High Force waterfall exist at this point on the River Tees?
A The river drops off the edge of a fault caused by tectonic activity
B Hard Whin Sill rock overlies softer sandstone and shale — differential erosion creates the step
C A dam was built here in the 19th century to create a reservoir
D The river is dammed by a natural barrier of deposited sediment
6 marksUpper to lower course changes
Describe how the River Tees changes from its upper course to its lower course. Refer to specific landforms at each stage. (6 marks)
Hint: Work through upper, middle and lower course in order. Name specific landforms (High Force, meanders, oxbow lakes, levees, estuary, mudflats) and explain the processes that formed them.