Named for the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (shaped like a triangle), a delta is a triangular area where a major river divides into a larger body of water.
The first so-called delta was the Nile Delta, named by the Greek historian Herodotus. What makes a delta so special? Alluvial deposits are the rich mineral soil that can be found in the delta. Despite frequent floods, farmers often settle in a delta for this reason. Here's some more fun delta trivia: the deltoid muscles in your shoulders are named after the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet too.
