Which of the following best describes the Mississippi River in its later stages?

The Mississippi River in its later stages is best described by the presence of oxbow lakes and meander scars. As a river matures and flows through flatter terrain, it tends to meander or curve significantly. These meanders can become so pronounced that sections of the river may eventually become isolated from the main flow, creating oxbow lakes—curved bodies of water that were once part of the river. Additionally, meander scars are the remnants of previous river bends that have been abandoned, leaving a distinctive pattern on the landscape.

This characteristic is indicative of a mature river system, where the velocity of water decreases and sediment deposition occurs, allowing features like oxbow lakes to form. The slow-moving water also promotes the growth of vegetation along the banks, further defining the river's morphology in its later stages.

Other descriptions, such as fast-flowing conditions with steep gradients, suggest an earlier stage of river development typically seen in youth or early maturity. A straight course with little erosion implies a low-energy environment, which is not typical for a river in its later stages. Clear, cold water might be characteristic of headwaters or mountain streams, but not representative of a river that has accumulated sediments from upstream and is flowing through more developed floodplains,