Rivers: Anatomy and Features of its Parts

Question 1

What are the parts of a river?

Answer 1

1. River Trunk
2. Tributaries
3. Distributaries
4. River Source
5. River Mouth

Refer to Written Notes for Diagram

Question 2

What are the 3 sections of a river?

Answer 2

Upper course, middle course, lower course

Question 3

What are the features of the upper course of a river?

Answer 3

1. Small volume of water (very few tributaries)
2. Steep gradient
3. Channel is V-shaped and narrow (steep gradient-> fast flowing water-> vertical erosion)

Question 4

What are features of the middle course of a river?

Answer 4

1. Larger volume of water than upper course (more tributaries)
2. Gentle gradient
3. Channel is U-shaped and wide (larger volume of water-> more erosive energy (lateral erosion))

Question 5

What are features of the lower course of a river?

Answer 5

1. Largest volume of water (many tributaries)
2. Almost flat gradient
3. Widest channel (largest volume of water-> greatest lateral erosive energy)