Parts of a River System

Parts of a River System Name: ______________________________________________________________ Period: _______ Date: __________ Essential Question: Why are rivers important? A river is a body of water that _____________________ from high ground to __________________________ ground. The beginning of a river is called the ______________________. As a river flows down, other smaller rivers called _________________________ join it and it becomes bigger The river flows in its __________________. The bottom of the river is called the ________________. The sides of the river are called the ___________________. Usually, the river stays in its channel but sometimes, after heavy rains, the river overflows its banks and there is a ____________________. At other times, during the summer or during a drought, some rivers ____________________________ completely and people can walk on the riverbed. The river usually flows down to a _________________ ,or an ocean. The area where river water (freshwater) mixes with the ocean water (saltwater) is called an ____________________.The place where the river meets the larger body of water is the end of the river and is called the _________________. Rivers and watersheds are separated from each by land or a ridge called a _____________________. Sometimes rivers flow very fast over rocks. These areas, which are called _______________________, are dangerous for boats. And sometimes, rivers flow over cliffs forming beautiful _________________________. Rivers are very important for civilization. They provide ___________ for drinking and ______________, water for agriculture. Rivers are also important routes for __________________________ by boats and ships. Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks.                   rapids channel flows dry up riverbanks flood low water river mouth lake transportation tributaries source (headwater) divide riverbed waterfalls irrigation estuary Multiple Choice: Write the letter of your answer on the blank. ____1. The place where a river begins is called its: A. Spring B. Estuary C. Source D. Headwater ____2. The point where the tributary meets the main river. A. Confluence B. Tributary C. Watershed D. Drainage basin ____3. The high land or ridge which separates one drainage basin or watershed from another is called a: A. mountain B. divide C. meander D. watershed ____4. The area where river water mixes with ocean water is called a _________. A. tributary B. estuary C. waterfall D. divide ____5. A _____ is a body of water that flows from high ground to low ground. A. lake B. estuary C. meander D. river ____6. Rivers are important because they provide _____. A. water for municipal use and irrigation B. heat to produce electricity. ____7. Rivers with very fast-flowing and turbulent water. A. lake B. canal C. rapids D. creek ____8. A landform that forms from deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enters slower-moving or standing water. This occurs where a river enters an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, or (more rarely) another river that cannot transport away the supplied sediment. a. delta B. volcano C. flood D. channel ____9. As a river begins to lose energy, material carried in suspension is deposited first and the rest of the load is carried farther. Think! Remember graded bedding. A. True B. False ____10. Which section of a river usually has the steepest gradient? A. Lower course B. Middle course C. Upper course D. None of the above ____11. Rivers that flow over cliffs are called __________. A. waterfalls B. valley C. riverbed D. irrigation ____12. This feature is formed when a meander is abandoned by a river. A. Ox bow lake B. Braiding C. Levee D. Interlocking spurs ____13. Natural embankments created alongside a river are known as: A. Interlocking spurs B. Deltas C. Levees D. Flood plains ____14. A piece of land which formed as a result of a river depositing sediment into the sea is called: A. A delta B. A levee C. braiding D. An ox bow lake ____15. In the lower course mostly ___________ takes place. This happens because the gradient is low and water flows slowly. A. Erosion B. Transportation C. Deposition D. Traction Label the parts of a river system Multiple Choice: Write your answer River source. in the appropriate Separates two watersheds and rivers. box. river that flows into a larger river.  Tributary  Meander a winding curve or bend of a river  Delta Meander cut off from the river. Areas that experience flooding during periods of high discharge.  Headwater  Floodplain  Oxbow lake  Estuary deposition. Freshwater mixes with saltwater.  Divide River mouth Why do we need keep our watersheds and rivers free from pollution? Think! ( 1o pts.) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Key: Flows Low Headwater Tributaries Channel Riverbed Riverbank Flood Dry up Lake Estuary River mouth Divide Rapids Waterfalls Water Transportation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. D A B B D A C A B C A A C A C Flows- water in the river flows Low-elevation Source- where rivers begin. Tributaries- smaller rivers that joint up to form bigger rivers. Channel- where the river flows. Riverbed- bottom of the river. Riverbanks-slopes bordering a rivers or the sides of a river. Flood- when the river overflows its banks. Dry up- when there is drought. Lake- where river dumps its water and sediments. Ocean- where river dumps its water and sediments. Mouth- ending of a river. Rapids- fast flowing river water. Waterfall- water falling from a cliff. Water- use for drinking, irrigation, transportation. Transportation Divide- Rivers and watersheds are separated from each by land or a ridge Corrasion is a geomorphological term for the process of mechanical erosion of the earth's surface caused when materials are transported across it by running water, waves, glaciers, wind or gravitational movement downslope. con·flu·ence the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width. "here at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers" synonyms: convergence, meeting, junction The place where a river begins is called its source. River sources are also called headwaters. Rivers often get their water from many tributaries, or smaller streams, that join together. The tributary that started the farthest distance from the river's end would be considered the source, or headwaters. The gradient of a river is a measure of how steeply it loses height. A river with a high gradient loses height quickly and is typically fast flowing and youthful. A river with a very gentle gradient loses very little height and is typically a slow flowing mature river. In fact, a lowland stream may have a gradient which is so gentle that it is impossible to measure without specialised equipment. A tributary is a freshwater stream that feeds into a larger stream or river. The larger, or parent, river is called the mainstem. The point where a tributary meets the mainstem is called the confluence. Tributaries, also called affluents, do not flow directly into the ocean.Apr 18, 2013