How does an oxbow lake form?

For an oxbow lake to form, first there has to be a meander. A meander forms because rivers take the easiest route through the landscape, they twist and turn cutting through softer rocks. The water flows faster on the outer edge of the bends in the meander. This causes it to further migrate and therefore there is more of a bend in the meander. On the inside bend, there is deposition. The neck of the meander becomes smaller and eventually, normally when there is a large discharge of water, the river cuts across the bend and creates a straight channel. Eventually, the bend of the meander gets cut off and becomes a little lake - an oxbow lake. This eventually gets filled in with plants and sediment.