I enjoy looking at maps. Especially topography. There is a warm spot in my heart for waterways. When I generate artificial maps I usually try and guess where canals would be best placed. Meandering rivers also intrigue me.
I grew up in Winnipeg where there is a distinct lack of terrain variation. What it does have is the pedigree of being a young land. Thousands of years ago, Manitoba, and really most of the Canadian prairies were covered by Lake Agassiz. So every waterway was formed after the lake drained away about ten thousand years ago. Rivers at this stage of their life are meandering as they are still trying to find their way. Eventually their twists and turns become so great that they make shortcuts for themselves and the remains form oxbow lakes.
I’ve always wanted to see if I could do that myself. Would it be possible to find an exaggerated meander and dig into it and create an artificial shortcut. Wouldn’t it be cool to dig a channel right here:

The river would rush through it and expand it quickly and soon enough the river would use that new course and an oxbow river would form.
I would have effectively stolen a river.
That’s how super villains like Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli roll.
I suppose you could “pretend” it was for the greater good; with a more efficient channel, the river would flow faster and start cutting a deeper valley, making the area less prone to flooding. Winnipeg does have a bit of a problem with that.
Of course, in my imagination, I keep in the realm of the possible and I think of doing that with little streams.
Today, I was looking over maps (I find it relaxing. Don’t judge me!) I happened to find someone who has done exactly that!

This person has stolen a river! There are clear channels that have been artificially created, forming oxbow lakes from where the river previously went.
Sir, you have my respect!