Smooth bends in the bed of a plain river, the radius of curvature of which depends on the water-bearing capacity of the river and its flow velocity.

Often the term bends is identified with the term meanders, but this is not always valid.

River bends are formed both by meandering and for other reasons: geological, geomorphological and others. If meandering bends are caused by the natural planned development of the channel, i.e. the process of meandering, then in this case the term bend and meandering are almost identical. If the meandering of the river is caused by the flow around an obstacle, as well as in incised and adapted rivers, there will be river bends, but meanders will not.