Rivers: Lower course

The end of a river is called the lower course. This is where the river flows into another body of water, like the sea or another river.

In this article you can learn about:

• Features of a river's lower course
• How an island can form in a river
• What a floodplain is
• Life by the sea

This article is suitable for Landscapes topics for primary school learners.

Join Isla and Connor as they explore what happens in the lower course of the River Tay.

• A river is a moving body of water that flows from its source into another body of water, like the sea.
• A river is split into three parts: the upper course, middle course and lower course.

• The lower course is the end of a river. It flows into another body of water. This could be the sea, an ocean, a loch or another river.
• In the lower course, the river channel is deep and wide and full of lots of water.
• The landscape around the lower course is flat, which means it has a wide floodplain.
• As a river reaches the end of its journey, energy levels are low and the current slows down.
• In the lower course, the water doesn't have enough energy to carry material, like sand and sediment so the river drops it. Thisdeposition creates features like islands.
• The area where a river ends when it meets another body of water, like the sea, is called the river mouth.

This slideshow shows some examples of lower course features.

Many rivers flow out to sea. Find out about life around river mouths and estuaries in this slideshow.

In the past, cities like Dundee and Aberdeen thrived on shipping trade. Learn more about these changing cities here:

• Changing cities: geocaching in Dundee
• Changing cities: Aberdeen and the Deeside Way

• lower course - The final section of a river which flows into another body of water which could be a loch, the sea, an ocean or even another river. A river's lower course is slower and has less energy to carry material, like sand and sediment.
• deposition - When water loses energy, it drops the material it has been carrying, like sand and gravel.
• island - A piece of land that is completely surrounded by water. Over time, a river drops lots of sand and sediment. Vegetation and plants begin to grow in these areas and their roots make the island stable.
• floodplain - The land next to a river that floods if it rains too much. When this happens, the river overflows into the surrounding area. The landscape around the lower course is flat so it is more prone to flooding.
• river mouth - Where a river meets an ocean, sea or loch. The river deposits a lot of the gravel, sand, silt and clay that it has been carrying at the river's mouth.
• port - A place where ships and boats are loaded and unloaded. This is where people and cargo can go between land and sea.
• harbour - A safe place where boats can be docked.

Try this short multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge of the lower course.

Write a fact file about a port or harbour near you.

A fact file is a short report of the most important information about one subject. This subject can be a thing, a place or even a person.

Some examples of ports and harbours in Scotland include: Aberdeen, Glasgow, Greenock, Leith and Dundee.

Here are some tips for writing your report:

• Before your create a fact file, it is important to research the subject. Make organised notes in preparation for writing your final fact file.
• When you are ready to write your fact file, start with a large clear title.
• Write a short introduction to let the reader know what you are writing about.
• Break up your information with subheadings.
• Using your research, write clear detailed paragraphs under each heading.
• Include pictures to make your fact file more interesting.
• Your fact file should use formal language and shouldn't include any of your opinions.

If you need some more help writing your fact file, you can get more information here: How to write a report