What term refers to the line that divides adjacent drainage basins?

What term refers to the line that divides adjacent drainage basins?

• A. River Channel
• B. Drainage Divide
• C. Estuary
• D. Tributary

Answer: (B)

A drainage divide is the boundary formed by high ground that separates adjacent drainage basins. It marks the watershed line where precipitation on one side drains into one basin and on the other side drains into the neighboring basin. This boundary is not a river or a mouth of a river; it’s the topographic crest—think of mountain ridges or ridgelines that guide flow direction. That’s why it’s the right term. In contrast, a river channel is the actual path the water travels within a basin. An estuary is where a river meets the sea and freshwater mixes with saltwater, not a divider of basins. A tributary is a smaller stream feeding into a larger river, again not a dividing line. A handy real-world example is the Continental Divide, which directs water toward different oceans on opposite sides.

A drainage divide is the boundary formed by high ground that separates adjacent drainage basins. It marks the watershed line where precipitation on one side drains into one basin and on the other side drains into the neighboring basin. This boundary is not a river or a mouth of a river; it’s the topographic crest—think of mountain ridges or ridgelines that guide flow direction. That’s why it’s the right term.

In contrast, a river channel is the actual path the water travels within a basin. An estuary is where a river meets the sea and freshwater mixes with saltwater, not a divider of basins. A tributary is a smaller stream feeding into a larger river, again not a dividing line. A handy real-world example is the Continental Divide, which directs water toward different oceans on opposite sides.