Definitions for Social Science Unit 3

Hydrography—The geographical study of the waters of the Earth.

Tributary (afluente)—A river that flows into another river instead of draining into the sea.

Source (nacimiento)—Where the water emerges from the earth to become a river

Mouth (desembocadura)—where the river ends

Channel (cauce)—where the river flows

Course (curso)—the path a river follows

Meanders—the curves in a river

Length—the distance between a river’s source and mouth

Discharge (caudal)—the amount of water flowing through a river

Regime (régimen)—the discharge variation throughout the year

Drainage basin (vertiente)—An area of land that drains all of its water into the same ocean, sea, or sometimes lake.

Dam (presa)—Dams are built on rivers to create reservoirs.

Reservoir (embalse)—water collected for human use (consumption, irrigation, industrial use, or to generate energy)

Torrents—Natural, flowing streams of water created by rain.

Ravines—Deep, narrow, steep-sided valleys formed by running water