This aerial photo of the Rio Puerco River in New Mexico shows the path of the river channel in four different years. Meanders develop where flowing water drops sediments on the insides of bends in the river channel. Curves in the river can be straightened by erosion during flooding events.

  !    Click the buttons to turn the river's path on or off for each year. Examine the paths to see where straight sections of the river developed meanders or meandering sections were later straightened.