river terrace

Part of an old flood plain that has been left perched on the side of a river valley. It results from rejuvenation, a renewal in the erosive powers of a river. River terraces may be fertile and are often used for farming. They are also commonly chosen as sites for human settlement because they are safe from flooding. Many towns and cities throughout the world have been built on terraces, including London, which is built on the terraces of the River Thames.

Other terraces are formed as a result of glacial outwash. This deposits large amounts of sand and gravel, which are later eroded by rivers. The uneroded parts remain as terraces. In southern England, the Harnborough, Wolvercote, Summertown, and Radley terraces near Oxford are areas of high ground above the flood plains of the River Thames and River Cherwell.