Existing classifications of river channels are critically revised. No uniform classification of mountain, semi-mountain and plain rivers is shown to be worked out as yet. Many channel types identification is based on the formal description, the same approach is used to mountain rivers typology and to plain rivers, without consideration of special features of the channels formation, principles for channels identification are often different, and many schemes are inconsistent in their internal structure.

A new classification of river channels is introduced, which includes all the variety of morphological features resulting from channel-forming activity of both plain and mountain rivers. Types, sub-types and species of channels are distinguished according to their morphology and especially to special features of their changes' regime. The classification's structure allows to enlarge it in the course of the channel processes study progress.