River Processes

Question 1

Drainage basin

Answer 1

A river basin or drainage basin is an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. The edge of the drainage basin is known as the watershed. This can be compared to a sink or basin, which catches the water falling into it. The water travels towards the centre and leaves the sink through a plug hole.

Question 2

Source

Answer 2

The source of a river or stream is the original point from which the river flows. It may be a lake, a marsh, a spring or a glacier. This is where the stream starts. The source is the farthest point of the river stream from its estuary or its confluence with another river or stream

Question 3

Tributary

Answer 3

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean

Question 4

Channel

Answer 4

In physical geography, a channel is a type of landform consisting of the outline of a path of relatively shallow and narrow body of fluid, most commonly the confine of a river, river delta or strait. The word is cognate to canal, and sometimes shows in this form, e.g. the Hood Canal.

Question 5

Watershed

Answer 5

an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

Question 6

Confulence

Answer 6

Confluence - the point at which two rivers or streams join.

Question 7

Mouth

Answer 7

A river mouth is the part of a river where the river flows into another river, a lake, a reservoir, a sea or an ocean.