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Floodplain for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'flʌd,pleɪn

What does Floodplain really mean?

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Hey there! So, imagine a floodplain as a big, wide area of land next to a river. When it rains a lot or the snow melts, the river can overflow and cover the floodplain with water. It's like when you spill a glass of water and it spreads out all over the table, except on a much bigger scale.

So, a floodplain is like a safety net for the river, because it gives the extra water a place to go without causing too much damage. It's kind of like a safety valve that helps prevent flooding in other areas.

Now, let's talk about another way to think about a floodplain. Have you ever seen a beach where the water sometimes covers the sand, but then goes back out again? That's kind of what happens with a floodplain, except it's a river that's doing the covering and uncovering instead of the ocean.

So, basically, a floodplain is a low-lying area of land near a river that gets covered with water when the river overflows. It serves as a natural safety valve for the river and helps protect other areas from flooding. Does that make sense?

Revised and Fact checked by Jack Taylor on 2023-11-15 14:28:37

Floodplain In a sentece

Learn how to use Floodplain inside a sentece

  • A floodplain is the flat land near a river that gets covered in water when the river floods. For example, the houses near the river are built on a floodplain, so sometimes they get flooded when it rains a lot.
  • The farmers use the floodplain to grow crops because the soil there is very fertile from the floodwaters bringing nutrients. They plant corn, wheat, and other crops on the floodplain.
  • When the river overflows, it can create a floodplain that stretches for miles, covering the fields and forests with water. This is called a natural floodplain.
  • People are not allowed to build houses on the floodplain anymore because it is too dangerous when the river floods. They need to find safer areas to live and build.
  • The animals love the floodplain because it is a great place to find food and water. Deer, raccoons, and birds all live in the floodplain and depend on it for their survival.

Floodplain Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Floodplain Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.