What is a River Basin?
By Balaji
Updated on: March 1st, 2023
A River Basin is an area formed by the drainage of a river and its tributaries. A river basin is made up of various lands that drain water into a specific body of water. A watershed is a scaled-down version of a river basin. River basins begin at high elevated areas, such as hilltops or mountains, and flow downhill.
Table of content
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1. River Basin Definition and Examples
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2. Difference Between River Basin and Watershed
River Basin Definition and Examples
The river basin’s water drains into a large water body, for instance, a large lake or an ocean. For example, the Mississippi River basin in the U.S. comprises six major watersheds: Tennessee, Lower Mississippi, Missouri, Upper Mississippi, Ohio, and Arkansas-Red-White Rivers.
- Every river and its branches have its watershed that drains to a bigger marshland or stream.
- The river has various parts, including lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands.
- There is a vast difference between a river basin and a watershed.
- A great feature of a river basin is its water can go inside the soil and form what are known as Aquifers.
- These areas between rocks contain fresh water and a pure source of drinking water.
Difference Between River Basin and Watershed
Given below is a brief difference between a river basin and a watershed.
- River Basin: Water drains into a large river. Therefore, it consists of a huge number of watersheds.
- Watershed: It is a smaller land area that drains into a smaller stream, lake, or wetland.
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