An oxbow lake is a small lake that is formed when a meandering river changes its course and leaves behind a U-shaped or curved bend that is cut off from the main river flow. The formation of an oxbow lake occurs due to the erosion and deposition of sediment by the river. Over time, the river erodes the outer banks of a meander bend and deposits sediment on the inner banks, causing the bend to become more pronounced. Eventually, the river may cut through the narrow strip of land that separates the two ends of the meander, creating a new, shorter channel. The old channel is then left behind as an oxbow lake. Oxbow lakes are common features in floodplains and are important habitats for a variety of aquatic plants and animals.