What do river terraces represent in terms of landscape features?

River terraces are significant geological features that represent the remnants of a former floodplain. Over time, as a river undergoes changes due to fluctuations in water flow, sediment supply, and tectonic activity, it can erode its bed and banks, leading to the formation of these terraces. When a river cuts down into its own sediment, it leaves elevated flat areas alongside the current river, which were once part of the active floodplain at a previous point in time.

This process is part of the broader landscape evolution where the river's flow may decrease, allowing sediment to accumulate at a higher elevation, thus forming the terrace. These terraces can provide valuable information about the historical behavior of river systems and the geology of the surrounding area by serving as indicators of past hydrological conditions and sediment transport processes.