Key learning points

1. A drainage basin is the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.
2. The edge of a drainage basin is known as the watershed.
3. Source, mouth, confluences and tributaries are parts of the river system.
4. Precipitation that falls in the drainage basin moves to the river through a series of stores and flows.
5. A drainage basin is an example of an open system.

Keywords

• Drainage basin - the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

• Watershed - the boundary of a drainage basin

• Tributary - a smaller river that joins the main river

• Confluence - the point where two rivers meet

• Mouth - where the river enters the ocean

Common misconception