Physical features of rivers

Question 1

River

Answer 1

A channel of water that flows towards the sea.

Question 2

Stream

Answer 2

A small river.

Question 3

Spring

Answer 3

Water underground bubbles up to the surface.

Question 4

Source

Answer 4

Where a river begins.

Question 5

Valley

Answer 5

A u- or v-shaped piece of land which slopes downwards. It usually has a stream running through it.
Rivers that flow strongly, carve deep valleys & gorges into the land.

Question 6

Gorge

Answer 6

A valley with very deep, steep sides.

Question 7

Waterfall

Answer 7

When a river suddenly drops from a high level to a very low level.

Question 8

Tributaries

Answer 8

Rivers that join a main river.

Question 9

River system

Answer 9

The main river with all of its tributaries.

Question 10

Catchment area/ drainage basin

Answer 10

The area of land where rain water runs into the river system.

Question 11

River mouth

Answer 11

Where the river empties its water into the sea. The river mouth is usually very wide and it flows slowly over flat land.

Question 12

Delta

Answer 12

A fan-shaped area where the river mouth separates into lots of small streams.

Question 13

What is a river?

Answer 13

A channel of water that flows towards the sea.

Question 14

What do we call a small river?

Answer 14

Stream.

Question 15

What do we call it when water from underground bubbles up to the surface?

Answer 15

Spring.

Question 16

In what direction do rivers flow?

Answer 16

Rivers always begin in high places and flow towards lower land.

Question 17

What do we call the beginning of a river?

Answer 17

Source.

Question 18

What do we call a u-shaped piece of land which slopes downwards?

Answer 18

Valley.

Question 19

What do we call a valley with very deep, steep sides?

Answer 19

Gorge.

Question 20

What do we call it when a river suddenly drops from a high level to a low level?

Answer 20

Waterfall.

Question 21

What do we call rivers that join a main river?

Answer 21

Tributaries.

Question 22

What do we call a main river with all of its tributaries?

Answer 22

River system.

Question 23

What do we call the area of land where water runs into the river system?

Answer 23

Catchment area or drainage basin.

Question 24

Where do rivers end?

Answer 24

Where they flow into the sea.

Question 25

What do we call the place where the river empties its water into the sea?

Answer 25

River mouth.

Question 26

What do we call the fan-shaped area where rivers separate into lots of small streams at the river mouth?

Answer 26

Delta.