This is the Toklat River in Denali NP. It is a good example of a braided river, which we saw many of in Alaska. Braided streams tend to occur in rivers carrying a large amount of of coarse sediment. They are also associated with rivers that experience regular surges in the amount of water being carried.

Sounds like a great metaphor for what we should do in life: carry along good things we experience and deposit them for others to enjoy.