A riverscape (also called river landscape) comprises the features of the landscape which can be found on and along a river. Most riverscape features are natural landforms (such as meanders and oxbow lakes) but they can also include artificial landforms (such as man-made levees and river groynes). Riverscapes can be divided into upper course riverscapes, middle course riverscapes, and lower course riverscapes.
The term riverine is sometimes used to indicate the same type of landscape as a riverscape, or only the riverbank. Riverine landscapes may also be defined as a network of rivers and their surrounding land, which is excellent for agricultural use because of the rich and fertile soil. The word riverine is also used as an adjective which means "relating to or found on a river or the banks of a river".
Upper course
In the upper course of rivers, channels are narrow and gradients are steep. Vertical erosion is the prominent land-forming process. Typical features of upper course riverscapes include:
Interlocking spurs Braided channels V-shaped valleys Giant's kettles Plunge pools Alluvial fans Tributaries Waterfalls Potholes Gorges Rapids
Middle course
In the middle course of rivers, the discharge increases and the gradient flattens out. Typical features of middle course riverscapes include:
U-shaped valleys Riparian forests Slip-off slopes Oxbow lakes Tributaries Cut banks Meanders Marshes Riffles Pools
Lower course
In the lower course of rivers, the channels are wide and deep, and the discharge is at its highest. Typical features of lower course riverscapes include:
Wide flat-bottomed valleys River groynes Large bridges Distributaries River deltas Floodplains Meanders Levees Kolks
Landscape art Riverscapes are popular subjects in landscape paintings. In addition to the use of the word riverscape in geography, the term is also associated with landscape art. In visual arts the term 'river scene' is considered a synonym for the word 'riverscape'. Related terms used in visual arts include 'seascape', 'cloudscape' and 'cityscape'. A well-known riverscape painter was Salomon van Ruysdael. Below are some examples of riverscape paintings.
Photo gallery
See also Fluvial processes River morphology River reclamation Riparian buffer Riparian zone Fresh water Canal
References