Floodplain
area of land adjacent to a stream or river which stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls, and which experiences flooding during periods of high discharge
A floodplain is the flat area around a river that is covered in times of flood. A floodplain is a very fertile area due to the rich alluvium (fine sediment) deposited by floodwaters. This makes floodplains a good place for agriculture. A build-up of alluvium on the banks of a river can create levees, which raise the riverbank.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flood_plain_at_Garpin_-_geograph.org.uk_-_234938.jpg/220px-Flood_plain_at_Garpin_-_geograph.org.uk_-_234938.jpg)