Some Common Terms Associated with Drainage Systems

Source of a river: A place where a river or stream starts from

Mouth of a river: It is the part of the river that flows into a lake, reservoir or sea

Tributary: It is a river that flows into a larger stream or river. A tributary does not flow directly into the sea. Eg River Oti is a tributary of River Volta. A tributary is also called affluent.

Confluence: It is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. A place where a tributary meets or joins a main river is called a confluence.

River bank: It refers to the land alongside a river or a body of water.