Where a river drops its sediment
Notes on slack water discharging its load, with a river stretch a-b and a river bend
Red-chalk notes on this folio work out where flowing water lets go of the material it carries. Leonardo observes that where the water moves more slowly it discharges more of the weight it bears and wears away less of its bed. Two lettered diagrams are described: a stretch of river where points a and b are free from motion, so that every light particle settles there, and a river bend where gravel, exposed sand and sand fouled with filth are marked, and where one current striking another comes to rest and drops its load. Further red-chalk sketching is present on the sheet.
On this page
Slower water discharges more of its load
Where the water has less motion and is laden, it discharges more of its weight; where it moves less, it also wears away less of its bed. The two remarks pair deposition with reduced scouring of the channel.
River stretch a-b, free from motion
In a diagrammed stretch of river the points a and b are said to have 'safe conduct' and to be free from motion, so that there every light weight is discharged. It marks the slack zones where sediment settles.
River bend: gravel and sand deposits
A river bend is labelled with gravel, exposed sand, wind and sand covered with filth. Where one body of water strikes against another it comes to rest without motion and lays down its load, sorting the deposits.