Crevasse splay

A crevasse splay is a sedimentary fluvial deposit which forms when a stream breaks its natural or artificial levees and deposits sediment on a floodplain.

Once the levee has been breached the water flows out of its channel.

[1] Breaches that form a crevasse splay deposits occur most commonly on the outside banks of meanders where the water has the highest energy.

Crevasse splay deposits can range in size.

Larger deposits can be 6 m (20 ft) thick at the levee and spread 2 km (1.2 mi) wide, while smaller deposits may only be 1 cm (0.39 in) thick.