Final answer:
An oxbow lake forms when a meandering river cuts through a narrow neck of land, isolating a meander and leaving behind a crescent-shaped body of water. Over time, an oxbow lake fills with sediments, leading to shallowness and the proliferation of plant life that further contributes to this process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formation of an Oxbow Lake
The formation of an oxbow lake occurs in a meandering river as a result of erosion and sediment accumulation. When a meander becomes extremely curved, the narrow neck of land between the twists may be broken through by the river during a flood or over time due to erosion. When this happens, the river takes a new, shorter path and a section of the meander becomes isolated to form an oxbow lake. Over time, an oxbow lake fills with sediments, leading to an increase in its depth initially. However, as sediment continues to accumulate, it can contribute to the shallowness of the lake.
Oxbow lakes also support diverse ecosystems. As they become shallower, they provide habitats for a range of wildlife, particularly vegetation that thrives in wetland environments. The vegetation can contribute further to the shallowness of the lake as plants grow and die, adding organic matter to the sediment building up at the bottom of the lake.