Running water along rivers, streams, or creeks can cause valleys with a "V" shape. Water cuts along a center line as it erodes the rocks and soil as the water flows over. As soon as the water in a river erodes the Earth’s surface, the river it also wants to deposit the sediment it created. If the energy in the water is high enough, the sediment will continue to stay in the water. However, if the water slows down, the sediment will drop out or be deposited because there is not enough energy to hold the sediment in the water. This process of eroding and depositing is called weathering.

A topographic map can help identify landforms if you can interpret the contours. Look at the contours that reflect a coastline on Quick Activity - Interpreting Contours. Contours can help us a three-dimensional world on a flat piece of paper!