What is a delta?

• A. A landform created at the mouth of a river where sediment is deposited as the river slows down and enters a standing body of water.
• B. A type of mountain formed by uplift.
• C. A body of water formed where two rivers meet.
• D. A large dune formed by wind deposition.

Answer: (A)

A delta is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river where the river slows down as it enters a standing body of water, like the sea or a lake, causing sediment to be deposited. As the flow loses energy, heavier particles settle first and the river often splits into multiple distributary channels, spreading sediments over a broad, fan-shaped area. Over long periods this builds up fertile land and a deltaic plain. This description matches a delta, while the other options describe different features: a landform created by uplift forms mountains, a place where two rivers meet is a confluence, and a dune is formed by wind deposition.