4.6 Watersheds

Question 1

Watershed

Answer 1

A watershed is an area of land where all the water that falls within it drains into a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It includes both the land and the bodies of water within its boundaries.

Imagine a giant funnel on the ground. When it rains, all the water that falls within that funnel flows towards the center and collects in a bucket. The funnel represents the watershed, and the bucket represents the common body of water where all the collected water ends up.

Question 2

Discharge Point

Answer 2

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.

Imagine a highway merging into another highway. The discharge point is like the spot where one highway ends and its traffic merges with the flow of vehicles on the other highway.