The document describes the life cycle of a river from its source in the mountains to its mouth at the sea. It explains that water falls as precipitation and travels over land as runoff, joining other water flows to form rivers. Rivers begin in the mountains at their source and flow downhill, forming rapids and waterfalls in their upper course, meanders and oxbow lakes in their middle course, and deltas, estuaries, and reaching the sea at their mouth in their lower course. Along the way, tributaries join the main river as it drains the surrounding basin on its journey to the ocean.

1. THE LIFE
OF A
RIVER
FROM SOURCE
TO THE SEA

2. What happens when water reaches the ground?
PRECIPITATION
CONDENSATION
LAND
EVAPORATION
SEA A SIMPLIFIED WATER CYCLE

3. Key Words
EVAPORATION When water vapour changes to liquid (cooling)
CONDENSATION Water in any form that falls to earth e.g. rain
PRECIPITATION When the ground water moves through the land
RUN-OFF When water vapour changes to liquid (warming)
PERCOLATION The water that is stored within the ground
GROUND WATER Water that is stored e.g. ground,clouds,air etc.
WATER STORES Water that moves directly along the ground
without penetrating.
Put the correct definition to the given word~one has been done for you

4. River Basins Key Words
• Where a river begins is called the Source.
• A small river meeting a larger river is called a Tributary.
Tributary
• Where the two rivers join is called the Confluence
• Rapids and Waterfalls form where the river is steep.
• Meanders and Ox Bow lakes form where the river is
flatter.
• Where the river flows into the sea is called the Mouth.
Mouth
• The part of the river affected by tides is the Estuary
• The area drained by a river is called the Drainage basin.

5. THE LONG PROFILE OF A RIVER
Upper Course Middle Course Lower course
SOURCE
MOUTH

6. The Upper Course
Steep Rapids and Waterfalls

7. The Middle Course
Meanders and Ox Bow Lakes

8. The Lower Course
Deltas, Estuary and the Mouth