World Rivers

Rate of water flow

• A River gets its water from– Precipitation– Groundwater– Melting waters from snow and glaciers

• Depending on the source of water the distinct rate of water flow develops in different rivers.

Equatorial zone

• Rivers get their water mainly from precipitation

• Rate of water flow is high throughout the year

The Congo River

Subequatorial zone

• High water occurs during summer raining season

• Low water occurs during dry winter

The Mekong River

Tropical zone

• Precipitation level is very low

• Rivers form only during the short raining period

A stream bed in Southern Israel

Subtropical Zone

• High water occurs during winter raining season

• Low water occurs during dry winter

The Tagus

The Yangtze

Temperate zone I

• High water occurs mainly during spring when the snow melts.

• High water can occur also during autumn rainfalls.

The Lena River

Temperate zone II

• Rivers which get their water mainly from groundwater maintain relatively high water throughout the year.

• Rivers which get their start in high mountains collect their water mainly from snow and ice melting waters. Because of that high water occurs during summer.

The Rhine