Every river is part of a larger system—a watershed, which is the land drained by a river and its tributaries. Rivers are large natural streams of water flowing in channels and emptying into larger bodies of water.

A cut bank, also known as a river cliff or river-cut cliff, is the outside bank of a water channel (stream), which is continually undergoing erosion.

Deposition is the process by which soil and fragments of rock are deposited in a new location.

Downstream is in the direction fo or nearer to the mouth of a river.

Erosion is the process by which soil and fragments of rock a broken off and carried away.

A fully-developed floodplain is relatively flat land stretching from either side of a river, which may flood during heavy rain or snow melt. Built of materials deposited by a river, floodplain soil is often rich in nutrients and ideal for growing food.

The crescent-shaped cutoff body of water that remains after a new channel forms.

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that joins a larger or main river.

A meander is a loop in a river channel. A meandering river winds back and forth, rather than following a straight course.

The river mouth is the place where a river flows into a larger body of water, such as another river, a lake, or an ocean.

The river source, also called the headwaters, is the beginning of a river. Often located in mountains, the source may be fed by an underground spring, or by runoff from rain, snow melt, or glacial melt.

The beginning or place of origin of a stream or river.

The main river is the primary channel and course of a river.

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Science River Terms

Study for River Test!

Term	Definition
River System	Every river is part of a larger system—a watershed, which is the land drained by a river and its tributaries. Rivers are large natural streams of water flowing in channels and emptying into larger bodies of water.
Cut Bank	A cut bank, also known as a river cliff or river-cut cliff, is the outside bank of a water channel (stream), which is continually undergoing erosion.
Deposition	Deposition is the process by which soil and fragments of rock are deposited in a new location.
Down River	Downstream is in the direction fo or nearer to the mouth of a river.
Erosion	Erosion is the process by which soil and fragments of rock a broken off and carried away.
Flood Plain	A fully-developed floodplain is relatively flat land stretching from either side of a river, which may flood during heavy rain or snow melt. Built of materials deposited by a river, floodplain soil is often rich in nutrients and ideal for growing food.
Ox Bow Lake	The crescent-shaped cutoff body of water that remains after a new channel forms.
Tributary	A tributary is a smaller stream or river that joins a larger or main river.
Meander	A meander is a loop in a river channel. A meandering river winds back and forth, rather than following a straight course.
Mouth	The river mouth is the place where a river flows into a larger body of water, such as another river, a lake, or an ocean.
Headwaters	The river source, also called the headwaters, is the beginning of a river. Often located in mountains, the source may be fed by an underground spring, or by runoff from rain, snow melt, or glacial melt.
Source	The beginning or place of origin of a stream or river.
Main River	The main river is the primary channel and course of a river.

Created by: Dailynn_Hughes

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