Upper Course - Vertical Erosion
The River changes as it travels from its source to its mouth.
The course of a river is divided into three main sections:
In the Upper Course the river erodes vertically and is the most dominant form of erosion 'vertical erosion'. The river forms a winding course as the river cuts downwards forming a V-shapped valley. Erosion and gravity causes the movement downwards as the energy of the river transports large boulders along its bed.
It meanders round protruding hillsides known as interlocking spurs. The river cuts through the softer rock, leaving the harder resistent interlocking spurs. These spurs restrict the view up and down the valley.