The lower course has the widest rivers and the largest meanders. The river is most likely to flood in this section and when it does a "short cut" can be formed. The river will flow through the shorter route, leaving the curve of the meander cut off. This is known as an ox-bow lake.

1. The river is starting to meander. Erosion is greater on the outside of the bend, deposition more on the inside.
2. Large meanders have formed
3. The river cuts through the meander, leaving a straighter section and an ox-bow lake.

The animation below shows this in a "time lapse" fashion.