The correct option is (c).
Explanation
River landforms are categorized into erosional and depositional features based on the river's course (upper, middle, and lower). The lower course of a river is characterized by a reduction in velocity and the dominance of depositional processes, leading to the formation of specific landforms such as deltas and levees.
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Statement 1 is Correct:
A delta is a depositional feature formed at the mouth of a river where it enters a standing body of water, such as a sea or lake. As the river approaches the sea, its gradient and velocity decrease significantly, causing it to shed its sediment load. This deposition obstructs the main channel, forcing the river to bifurcate into smaller channels known as distributaries, creating a triangular or fan-shaped landform. -
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
Distributaries are characteristic of the lower course (old stage) of a river, typically found near the mouth or within a delta. In contrast, the source or upper course of a river is characterized by tributaries (smaller streams joining the main river) and erosional features like V-shaped valleys and waterfalls. -
Statement 3 is Correct:
Natural levees are low, linear, and parallel ridges of coarse deposits found along the banks of rivers. They are depositional landforms formed during flooding when the river overflows its banks. As the water spreads out over the floodplain, its velocity drops, causing the immediate deposition of coarser sediments near the channel margins, building up the levees over time.
Key Takeaway:
Tributaries join the main river in the upper and middle courses, whereas distributaries branch away from the main river in the lower course. Both deltas and natural levees are primary examples of fluvial depositional landforms.