Floodplains are wide, flat plains formed by fine rock particles deposited during periodic river flooding, while deltas are flat lands formed at river mouths by sediment deposition over time. Floodplains are built up through repeated flooding that deposits alluvium onto the adjacent land when rainfall overwhelms the river's capacity. Similarly, deltas are formed through gradual accumulation of alluvium at coastal river mouths in areas with shallow waters, weak currents and large sediment loads from rivers.