A river basin (also called a drainage basin or catchment area) is the area of land from which all rainfall and streams flow into a particular river and its tributaries.
Main features of a river basin
- Source: The starting point of the river.
- Tributaries: Smaller streams or rivers that join the main river.
- Main river: The principal river that carries water.
- Watershed (drainage divide): The higher land that separates one river basin from another.
- Mouth: The place where the river empties into a sea, lake, or another river.
Example
The Ganges River Basin includes the land areas where rainwater eventually drains into the Ganges River through its network of tributaries.
