What term describes the sweeping bends formed by meandering streams?

The term that describes the sweeping bends formed by meandering streams is meanders. Meanders are natural curves or bends in a river or stream that develop in response to the flow of water and the topography of the land. As water flows through varying substrates, it erodes the outer banks of these bends, creating pronounced curves. These bends are significant for the ecology of the stream, as they can affect flow rates, sediment deposition, and habitat availability for various aquatic organisms.

The other terms listed refer to specific features associated with river systems but do not encapsulate the sweeping shapes themselves. Riffles are shallow areas in a stream where the water flows swiftly over rocks or gravel, creating a rough water surface. Point bars are sediment deposits that form on the inside of the meander bends, where the velocity of the water is slower, allowing sediment to settle. Cut banks are the eroded outer banks of the meander where the water's velocity is higher, resulting in bank retreat. Therefore, meanders is the most fitting term for describing the sweeping bends formed by meandering streams.