When rivers like the Cuyahoga flow across flat land, they lose energy, and their course begins to meander, thus creating oxbow shapes. The resulting land pattern of peninsulas between those meanderings is a distinctive feature of this Valley's section. In this area, the river has been bulkheaded and dredged for commercial purposes, extending the navigation harbor inland, but also disrupting a number of ecological functions. Many of the industrial and commercial uses historically located here have closed or been replaced by less intense uses. Potential for this area lies in its close proximity to many activity generators like the Gateway Sports Complex, Tower City Center, the Flats, Ohio City, and Tremont.