River load
Most rivers flow quickly in the steeply sloping sections near their source. Fast moving water 
washes away gravel, sand and mud leaving a rocky bottom.
Gravel and sand is dragged, rolled and bounced along the bottom of the river. This is called the bed load. Finer sand and mud that is supported by the water column is called the suspended load. Some minerals are dissolved in the water. These minerals form the river's solution load.
Click to view larger and see the legend.
- Stream current
- Suspended load
- Solution load (dissolved)
- Bed load
- River bed
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