Which term describes the highland origin of a river, commonly called its headwaters?

Which term describes the highland origin of a river, commonly called its headwaters?

• A. Source
• B. Mouth
• C. Headwaters
• D. Delta

Answer: (C)

The starting streams in the mountains or highlands—the upper part of a river system—are called headwaters. This term emphasizes their position at the top of the drainage network and their role as the sources that feed the rest of the river downstream. The other terms don’t fit as well: the source is a general term for where a river begins, but headwaters specifically refer to the highland, uppermost origin; the mouth is where the river ends into another body of water; and a delta forms at the river’s mouth where sediment is deposited. So, for the highland origin described, headwaters is the best fit.

The starting streams in the mountains or highlands—the upper part of a river system—are called headwaters. This term emphasizes their position at the top of the drainage network and their role as the sources that feed the rest of the river downstream. The other terms don’t fit as well: the source is a general term for where a river begins, but headwaters specifically refer to the highland, uppermost origin; the mouth is where the river ends into another body of water; and a delta forms at the river’s mouth where sediment is deposited. So, for the highland origin described, headwaters is the best fit.