Physical features - Mapwork

Question 1

Direction of river flow

Answer 1

River flows from source to mouth downhill.
River direction can be worked out be looking at contour lines as river only flows downhill.
This can affect land use, further downstream land is flatter so more profitable agriculture.

Question 2

Tributaries

Answer 2

Small streams off main river.
Mention in answer the number of tributaries.
Tributaries can provide irrigation, paddling for tourists or a mini hydro-electric scheme for profit.

Question 3

Confluence

Answer 3

Where a tributary meets the main river

Question 4

Watershed

Answer 4

The line that separates one drainage basin from another.

Give three 6 figure GR in answer to show general line of watershed.

Question 5

Drainage basin

Answer 5

Describe the size of the drainage basin and give an approximate coverage in km^2, and state if the drainage basin flows into a larger body.

Question 6

Infiltration levels

Answer 6

The water that permeates the soil

Question 7

Percolation levels

Answer 7

Water that seeps through from the soil into the rock. If the rock is impermeable then the soil above will become saturated quicker reducing the lag-time and increasing the chance of flooding.
The rock type can be identified using the atlas.

Question 8

Surface storage

Answer 8

Eg. Natural lakes, reservoirs, dams and irrigation channels.
Reservoirs are different from natural lakes as they have a dam at one end (give 6 figure GR and length). Dams are situated at one end of reservoir or across river (give 6 figure GR and map description).
Reservoirs and natural lakes can be used for recreational purposes depending on their accessibility and natural heritage protection. Dams can provide hydro-electric power

Question 9

V-shaped valley

Answer 9

Steep sided dip in landscape with a river at the bottom. Often with inter-locking spurs caused by meandering. The bed rock is either resistant to lateral erosion or the river is not powerful enough to erode wider.
Identified by close contour lines.
The steep sided valley makes it difficult for any land use apart from hill-sheep farming and commercial, coniferous forestry.

Question 10

Gorge

Answer 10

Steep sided valley and narrow dip in the landscape. Often with a waterfall at the end but not always.
Identified by contour lines very close together and typically linear with a river at the bottom (contour lines become cliff).
Recreational land use and forestry normally deciduous to help stabilise the gorge sides with a root system.