What naturally forms alongside a river after flooding and receding?

The natural formation of levees alongside a river after flooding and receding is linked to the way rivers manage sediment and water flow during flood events. When a river overflows its banks, the excess water spreads across the surrounding land, and as it does so, it slows down and begins to lose the energy it carried. This decrease in speed allows sediment—comprised of soil, sand, and other materials—to settle out of the water and accumulate on the riverbanks.

As a result, this sediment creates elevated areas called natural levees which are typically higher than the surrounding floodplain. Over time, with repeated flooding, these levees can grow larger and more pronounced, providing a natural form of flood protection for the land behind them. The process highlights how sediment dynamics and the hydrological changes during flooding directly contribute to the formation of natural levees, making them a significant feature in fluvial environments.

Other choices diverge from this phenomenon. High cliffs are typically formed through erosion caused by water, wind, or ice rather than sediment deposition after a flood. Deep ravines are created from significant erosional processes over time and not directly linked to the sedimentary processes of flooding. Sandbars are formed by similar sedimentation processes but occur within the river channel