How does accretion occur?

Accretion occurs through the gradual addition of soil from water, which can happen when sediment is carried by water currents and deposited along riverbanks, lake shores, or coastal areas. This process involves natural forces, such as flowing water, which transport sediments and gradually build up land over time.

This method of land formation is significant in legal contexts, particularly in property law, where ownership of newly formed land can be claimed by adjacent landowners. The distinction between accretion and other processes like erosion or avulsion (which involves sudden changes in land due to water) is crucial in understanding property rights and land boundaries.

In contrast, other choices reflect different geological or legal concepts. Sudden land loss through water relates to erosion or avulsion, while land recession into the water also describes a different process, and illegal methods of land acquisition do not pertain to the natural processes of land formation.