River floodplains are extensive plains located along rivers. In these areas, the river can overflow during floods.

In river valleys, after the change of the river's course, parts of the channel with stagnant water - backwaters - can remain. Some of these backwaters transform into separate lakes or swamps. Sometimes, part of the soil on the banks of the rivers also becomes swampy. For this reason, the fauna and flora of river floodplains, lakes, and swamps can have quite a lot in common and even share certain elements.

The main feature of river floodplains is their ability to retain a large amount of moisture. Additionally, the silty soils are very fertile. This creates favorable conditions for plant growth and the existence of a high variety of animals.

In the Paleogene, the vegetation of riverbanks was almost identical to the present day. On the banks, you could encounter familiar walnut (Juglandicarya), willows (Salix), various shrubs such as Comptonia, and many other plants...