Science Section 3

Front 1

What is a river system?

Back 1

a river and all its tributaries together make up a river system.

Front 2

What bodies of water make up a river system?

Back 2

streams, smaller rivers

Front 3

How is a watershed related to a river system?

Back 3

the land area that supplies water to a river system is called a watershed (also called a drainage basin).

Front 4

How could you determine the boundaries of a river system by studying a map of the United States?

Back 4

by drawing an imaginary line around the region drained by all its tributaries.

Front 5

tributary

Back 5

streams and smaller rivers that make up a bigger river.

Front 6

watershed

Back 6

the land area that supplies water to a river system is called a watershed (also called a drainage basin).

Front 7

divides

Back 7

one watershed is separated from another by a ridge of land called a divide.

Front 8

headwaters

Back 8

the many small streams that come together at the source of the river are called headwaters.

Front 9

flood plain

Back 9

the broad flat valley through which a river flows is its flood plain.

Front 10

meander

Back 10

are looping curves in a river.

Front 11

mouth

Back 11

at its mouth, the river flows into another body of water.

Front 12

Oxbow Lake

Back 12

sometimes a meander curves back on itself. the river may then cut a new, straight course, eventually leaving an oxbow lake.

Front 13

delta

Back 13

The river slows down and deposits the sediment it carries, creating a delta.