Braided Channels

What is a Braided Channel?A braided channel is the name given to a single stream in a braided river network.

They are formed when islands of sediment build up in the river and split the water into lots of smaller streams that will make up a network of channels.

Formation of braided channelsThe main contributing factor to the formation of braided streams is the sediment load carried by the river. Once the sediment load in a river reaches a certain level it is deposited on the slow moving and shallow parts of a river such as at meandering points of the river.

These deposits make islands in rivers and braided channels are formed.

Locations of braided channelsBraided channels are found are numerous points of a river:-

They can be found in meandering parts of a river.

They are also found in early stages of rivers where erosion rate is high due to fast flowing water.

River deltas are also another area where braided channels form. This is due to the large amounts of load sediment carried in the river that is deposited at this point.