The changes in the river from meandering are common in areas with varied topography. Meandering is caused by the changing energy in the river system. A change in velocity of the river will result in changes in the cross section, erosion of the bed, channel shape, the channel roughness (texture of the bed of the channel) and gradient. When the velocity of a river begins to fall the stream no longer has the competence or capacity to carry the entire load. So starting with the largest particles, material begins to be deposited. As the material is deposited, it leads to formation of meanders and eventually ox bow lakes.