What causes a river to meander?

River meanders are caused by the combination of erosion on the outer banks and deposition on the inner banks, driven by the water's tendency to take the path of least resistance around obstacles.

What is the difference between a cut bank and a point bar?

A cut bank is the outer curve of a meander where high-velocity water erodes the bank, while a point bar is the inner curve where slower water deposits sediment.

How is an oxbow lake formed?

An oxbow lake forms when a river meander becomes so extreme that the river cuts through the neck of the loop, abandoning the old bend and creating a crescent-shaped lake.