What is the name of the deepest part of a river channel?

The thalweg is defined as the line of lowest elevation within a watercourse, which represents the deepest part of the river channel. This term comes from the German words for "valley way," indicating the path water takes through a river, where it's generally fastest and most effective at transporting sediment. Understanding this concept is crucial for activities related to hydrology, river navigation, and environmental studies, as it helps in determining water flow dynamics and sediment transport patterns.

In contrast, the channel bed refers to the bottom surface of the river channel where water flows, but it does not specifically denote the deepest part. The bank pertains to the sides of the river, defining its boundaries above the water level, while the floodplain is the flat area adjacent to the river that may be inundated during high-water events. Each of these terms highlights different features of a river system, but only the thalweg specifies the deepest flow line in the channel.