What term describes land formed by the gradual accumulation of soil due to natural processes?

The term that describes land formed by the gradual accumulation of soil due to natural processes is "accretion." This process involves the slow and gradual buildup of soil or sediment on a piece of land, often as a result of the actions of water, such as rivers depositing silt or sediment over time. Accretion is significant in property law because it can affect property boundaries and ownership rights, as land gained through this natural process generally becomes the property of the landowner adjacent to the newly formed land.

In contrast, avulsion refers to the sudden displacement of land, such as during a flood where land is rapidly eroded away, rather than the gradual accumulation of soil. Reliction occurs when water recedes from land, exposing previously submerged land, but this is not about the accumulation of soil. An encumbrance, on the other hand, is a legal term referring to a claim, lien, or liability attached to a property, which does not relate to the formation of land through natural processes. Thus, "accretion" is the appropriate term for describing the gradual formation of land through the accumulation of soil.