Final answer:
A braided stream is a river flow pattern characterized by a network of interconnected water channels that flow around numerous temporary islands or bars. This leads to a distinctive braided appearance, with the stream commonly being wider and shallower than other types of rivers.
Step-by-step explanation:
A braided stream is a type of river characterized by the presence of an interconnecting network of water channels. This network flows around numerous bars, islands of sand and gravel, which are temporarily formed within the river channel. As the braided river flows downstream, widening and slowing, it begins to deposit the sediment it carries, often resulting in the formation of these bars and islands, which in turn leads to the braiding pattern for which these streams are named.
The observable features of a braided river generally include mostly sand deposits, some sediment beds, and occasionally a layer of gravel on the bottom, with the unique characteristic of cross-bedding. These features can often lead to frequent changes in the river's channels and cause the river to be very wide and shallow.