How streams and rivers carve the land

Streams and rivers are powerful agents of erosion, constantly shaping and reshaping the Earth's surface through a combination of processes. The relentless flow of water carries away loose sediment, a process known as hydraulic action. As the water moves, it also picks up and transports abrasive particles like sand, gravel, and even boulders. These transported materials then act as tools, grinding and scraping against the streambed and banks in a process called abrasion or corrasion. Over time, this constant scouring deepens and widens the channel. Furthermore, soluble minerals in the rock are dissolved and carried away by the water, a process known as solution. The combined effects of hydraulic action, abrasion, and solution, along with the sheer force of the moving water, enable streams and rivers to incise valleys, carve out canyons, and transport vast quantities of material from higher elevations to lower ones, thereby continually modifying the landscape.