When the meander bends, it becomes giant loops, there is a very thin piece of land left between the beginning and the end of the meander. This is known as the meander neck.
The river cuts off the backwater completely and flows across which used to be the meanders neck. For a short time, an oxbow lake is left behind. It is called an oxbow lake because it is shaped like the old fashioned 'U' shaped yoke. The oxbow lake lasts until it becomes overgrown with weeds and filled in with soil there is a little line left behind as you can see in the picture where the oxbow lake is. This happens quite quickly as it is cut off from the main river and therefore doesn't get any water.
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