Tributary
A tributary is a river that flows into another, usually larger rivers and so this is tributary. Major rivers, however, reach the sea or end in Endseen ( or exhaustion ).
Conceptual framing
The term tributary is in the sense described colloquially largely unique ( the tributary is the hydrological and geographical parlance also a tributary ). Less obvious, however, some differences to other neighboring terms.
The term tributary is much more general and includes the geographical part of its field of meaning something more: including artificial flume as channels (meaning power plant canals or sewers, but of course not channelized resulting watercourse ) or waters, the lakes accrue and thus a significance compared directly in pairs executed are withdrawn.
The term influx moreover also includes nonlinear way zutretendes water, about groundwater or areally inflowing water after heavy rain ( up to sheet flow alternately humid climates ).
With secondary flow in the geographical context of the current smaller part is often referred to, the flow around a river island. The term thus refers not to flow associations, but on a temporary or permanent river branches. In a similar sense, the terms tributary or Strom-/Flussarm are needed.
From two source rivers are spoken in some cases, without apparently unique main river. Then unite to form a river different name as in the example of Fulda and Werra, which unite to form the Weser, or both are already in the later name with words such as front and rear Rhein Rhein Main or White and Red Main.
Orohydrografische features
The conceptual distinctions make it clear that the lemma tributary referred to only one of many elements of a flow system.
A simple systematization distinguishes direct tributaries of a major river and indirect tributaries that flow even in a creek. The Isar example, is a direct tributary of the Danube. The Amper is a direct tributary of the Isar and thus a tributary of the second order of the Danube, so their indirect tributary. There are several approaches to systematize the opening sequence one another Direction river from its sources to the end of the main flow with ascending flow ordinal numbers. This results in the tributaries of different order.
The position of a secondary flow is indicated with respect to the flow direction. We distinguish right and left tributaries orographic. For example, flows the Neckar orographic right of the Rhine and the Moselle from the left. This means that if you drive down the Rhine, Neckar flows from the right and left of the Mosel into the Rhine.
The orohydrografische consideration of a flow system is used in the determination of the main Quellastes and the hierarchy of tributaries often produce different results, as it suggest the historically grown river names. Nevertheless, the historically grown names appear mostly also on the river ordinal numbers.
Naming of major and minor rivers
At the meeting of two rivers flowing usually smaller than the tributary in the larger river, which retains the name as the main river. What degree determines the size of the river, however, is not clearly defined. Usually, the water flow is primarily used to determine the main river. In particular, if this is not known or not obvious, the run length, which can be determined approximately and easily from topographical maps, used. The historically grown nomenclature has usually let the apparently greater flow to keep the name. In unclear cases, not infrequently, none of the rivers the name on.
A well-known example is the Weser, which arises from the longer the Werra and the water-rich Fulda. What is interesting about this example is that the Werra and Weser were once named as a river ( Wisahara / Visarius ). Other examples are Marañón ( water-rich ) and Ucayali ( longer), from which the Amazon is apparent. The Rednitz ( is longer with the Franconian Rezat ) and the Pegnitz form at the Fürth Regnitz. The Brigach and the relatively water-rich and longer Breg in Donaueschingen Danube feeder path.
Not always lead tributaries less water than the main river, into which they open. After the main criterion of the water supply they were so hydrographic to be regarded as major rivers. Rivers that are actually on their water supply tributaries, but can be longer, which is due either to a smaller, usually narrower catchment area or to a lower average runoff of the catchment area. Finally, there are tributaries that would be not only to address as the main river for their water supply, but also are even longer.
Nominal tributaries as hydrological main rivers
Many tributaries lead at the mouth more water than the nominal main flow and are thus a part of the main flow path in a river system, ie hydrologically considered the main river. Tributaries to the main river as well as to the length or size of the basin exceed, in some cases, in all these parameters.
Common causes why the smaller of the two rivers may carry the name of the unified flow are:
- The valley of the nominal master arm has been inhabited longer as fruitful, long-distance or conveniently
- At the nominal main arm are more significant places
- The nominal main arm follows a scenic natural area more prominent or more significant sink ( example: the Danube and Inn)
- The nominal tributary originates in another country than the rest of the river system
- The nominal main arm has the same direction as the flow downstream of the confluence ( Examples include Main and Regnitz, Fulda and Eder)
The following is a sortable, by default the name of the nominal main flow ( column 5) parent table of tributaries more famous rivers, which might be considered at its mouth as the main rivers. The sizes length, catchment area and runoff relate to the location immediately above the mouth.