The correct option is (c) 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
Plains are extensive areas of flat or gently rolling land. While some plains are formed by structural uplift or erosion, a significant number are formed by the depositional work of exogenic agents like rivers, wind, and glaciers. In the context of rivers, these are known as alluvial or depositional plains.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Rivers are active agents of erosion and transportation. As they flow down mountain slopes, they erode the underlying rock and transport vast quantities of eroded material (sediment load). It is scientifically incorrect to state that rivers do not carry eroded material; without this load, depositional plains could not form.
- Statement 2 is Correct: As a river moves from the upper course to the middle and lower courses, it transports a load consisting of stones, sand, silt, and clay. When the river's carrying capacity decreases, it deposits this material along its banks and bed, leading to the formation of floodplains and other depositional features.
- Statement 3 is Correct: As a river approaches the sea (its mouth), the gradient of the land generally becomes very gentle. This reduction in slope causes the speed of the water to decrease significantly. The reduced velocity diminishes the river's ability to transport heavy sediment, resulting in the deposition of silt and the formation of features such as deltas.
Key Takeaway: Rivers act as primary agents of gradation, eroding material from highlands and depositing it in lowlands to form alluvial plains. The deposition is driven by a decrease in river velocity and slope gradient.