Rivers

1
Rivers
2
Stream bed

• A stream bed is the channel bottom of a stream,
  river or creek the physical confine of the
  normal water flow.
• As a general rule, the bed is that part of the
  channel, just at the "normal" water line and the
  banks are that part above the water line.

3
Stream bed of the Yukon river
4
Rate of water flow

• Rate of water flow, is the volume of water which
  passes through a given cross-section of the river
  channel per unit time.
• It is typically measured in cubic meters per
  second 1 m³/s.

5
Rate of water flow of the River Severn
6
The Amazon
7
Source of a river

• The source of a river is the place from which the
  water in the river or stream originates.

The source of the Amazon river
8
Waterfall

• A waterfall is a place where flowing water
  rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a
  steep region or a cliff.

9
Waterfalls
Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's tallest
waterfall at 979 m (3,212 ft).
10
Waterfalls
Victoria falls
Niagara falls
11
Waterfall animation

• http//www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?
  src307/consultants_resources2F_files2Fgorge.swf
  

12
Rapid

• A rapid is a section of a river where the river
  bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an
  increase in water velocity and turbulence.
• A rapid is characterised by the river becoming
  shallower and having some rocks exposed above the
  flow surface.

13
Niagara rapids
Rhine rapids
14
Floodplain

• A floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly
  flat land adjacent to a stream or river that
  experiences occasional or periodic flooding.

The Mississippi Flood Plain
15
Terrace

• Stream terraces are relict features, such as
  floodplains, from periods when a stream was
  flowing at a higher elevation and has downcut to
  a lower elevation.

16
Meanders

• http//www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?
  src309/consultants_resources2F_files2Fmeander4.
  swf
• http//www.wiley.com/college/strahler/0471480533/a
  nimations/ch17_animations/animation1.html

17
Mouth of a river

• The mouth of a river is the place where the
  river flows into another body of water.

Mouth of the Amazon River
18
Delta

• Deltas are formed from the deposition of the
  sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves
  the mouth of the river.

The Nile River Delta
19
Watershed and drainage basin

• A watershed is the line separating neighbouring
  drainage basins (catchments).
• A drainage basin is an extent of land where water
  from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a
  river

20
The Amazon drainage basin
21
Main European drainage divides (red lines)
separating drainage basins (gray regions)
22
Tributary

• A tributary is a stream or river which flows into
  a mainstream (or parent) river
• 'Right tributary' and 'left tributary' are terms
  stating the relative positions of the tributary
  to the mainstream river. These terms are applied
  from the perspective of looking downstream (in
  the direction the current of the water is going).