Start and End
This is the high up place in the mountains where a river first starts its long journey
Headwater
The biggest, central river in a river basin that all smaller streams flow into
A small, shallow body of quiet water where frogs, lily pads, and turtles love to live
Pond
The flat area of land next to a river that gets covered in water when the river overflows
Floodplain
Rain falling inside the basin boundary will eventually drain into which major water feature?
Main River
This is the end of the river where its water finally flows into a ocean, sea, or large lake
Mouth
Any smaller river or stream that feeds its water into a larger main river
Tributary
A large body of fresh or salt water surrounded entirely by land
Lake
A high, steep wall of rock or soil right along the river edge or mountain side
Cliff
True or False: A small brook can be a tributary to a larger river
True
The outer rim or edge of high land that acts like a border around a river basin
Basin Boundary
A deep, calm spot along a river where the water moves very slowly and fish like to rest
River Pool
Land that is soaked with water most of the year, like a swamp or a marsh
Wetland
Why is it usually not a good idea to build a house right on a floodplain?
Name two still bodies of water you might find inside a river basin
Pond and Lake
A very small, gentle stream that often flows into larger streams near the start of a river
Brook
This small body of running water is bigger than a trickle, but smaller than a main river
Brook
This body of water is larger and deeper than a pond, so sunlight often cannot reach all the way to its bottom
Lake
The rich soil deposited after a flood makes it great for growing plants and farming. What is this area called?
Floodplain
If a river overflows its banks, which two land areas nearby get affected first?
Floodplain and Wetland
If you start hiking at the headwater and keep walking all the way until the river empties out, what feature do you reach at the end?
Mouth
When two tributaries meet up and flow together, they create a bigger stream that feeds into what?
When two tributaries meet up and flow together, they create a bigger stream that feeds into what major river?
Animals like ducks rely on this soggy ecosystem near rivers to build nests and find food
Wetland
If a river carves a deep valley through steep rock over thousands of years, leaving high walls on both sides and flat land at the bottom, which two landforms did it create?
Cliff and Floodplain
Place these three water features in order from highest in the mountains to lowest at sea level: mouth, headwater, main river
Headwater, Main River, then Mouth