Tributary

A Tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater, leading the water out into an ocean.

Overview

A confluence, where two or more bodies of water meet together, usually refers to the joining of tributaries. The opposite to a tributary is a distributary, a river or stream that branches off from and flows away from the main stream. Distributaries are most often found in river deltas.

Terminology

The term "tributary" comes from the Latin word tributarius, which means "paying tribute". In this case, the "tribute" is the water that the tributary contributes to the main river.

Types of Tributaries

There are various types of tributaries such as:

• Perennial Tributaries: These tributaries flow all year round.
• Intermittent Tributaries: These tributaries flow only at certain times of the year.
• Ephemeral Tributaries: These tributaries flow only after specific events like heavy rainfall.

See also

• River delta
• River source
• Confluence
• Drainage basin
• Affluent