Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A discharge point is the location where water from a river or stream flows into another body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or another river. It is the endpoint of a watercourse.
A watershed refers to an area of land where all the water that falls within it drains into a common outlet, such as a river or lake.
Tributary: A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river. It contributes its water to the main channel.
Estuary: An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water formed when freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean.