Rivers, climate and Rivers, climate and vegetationvegetation

5th gradeBY PATRICIA VELASCO RICO

What is a river?What is a river?Rivers are moving bodies of

water.

River Thames

Where does a river Where does a river originate?originate?A river originates in the

mountains, and flows into a sea, a lake or another river.

The river originates in the

mountains The river flows into a sea, a

lake or another river

For example…

A river that flows into an ocean: River Tajo

For example

A river that flows into another river:

Guadarrama river flows into Tajo River.

For example

A river that flows into a lake:River Ter (Gerona) flows into Lago

de Bañolas

Elements of a riverElements of a river

- The courseWe canDistinguish 3 - The flowelements in a river - The flow regime

What is the course of a What is the course of a river?river?The course of a river is the route

which a river takes from its source to the mouth.

This is the

source of the river

This is the

mouth of the river

This is the COURSE of

the river

There are 3 courses:

Upper courseUpper courseIt is near the source. Here, the river is narrow.The river bed is steep, so the

water moves fast

Middle courseMiddle courseHere, the river is wider. The river

bed is flatter, so the water flows slowly.

In the middle course, the river forms curves. These curves are called meanderings.

This is a meandering

Lower courseLower courseIt is near the mouth of the river.The river is wide here. The river

bed is very flat, so the water moves very slowly.

What is the flow of a river?

It is the amount of water that a river carries.

The more precipitacion there is, the greater the flow will be

What is flow regime?What is flow regime?It is the flow pattern during the

year.

◦If the flow regime varies very little, it is regular.

◦If the flow regime varies a lot, it it irregular

Torrents, lakes and Torrents, lakes and reservoirsreservoirsWater can also be found in other

places on the surface of the Earth.

◦Torrents

◦Lakes

◦Reservoirs

TorrentTorrentThey are streams of water which

form after heavy rains

LakesLakesThey are large bodies of water

surrounded by land.

ReservoirsReservoirsThey are man – made lakes.

They produce energy, irrigate fields and supply water to urban areas. Canals and irrigation chanels are used for transporting water from a reservoir to other places

What is a watershed?What is a watershed?Rivers that flow into the same sea

belong to the same watershed (vertiente).

The rivers in Spain flow into three different seas, in other words, they belong to three watersheds:◦Cantabrian watershed◦Mediterranean watershed◦Atlantic watershed

Meter imagen de vertientes hidrográficas

Cantabrian WatershedCantabrian WatershedIt has short, swift rivers.

They have a regular flow regime and abundant flow.

The most important rivers are the Nervion, Saja, Navia and Nalón

Mediterranean watershedMediterranean watershedIt occupies about one third of Spain.

With the exception of the Ebro, the rivers are short and have irregular regimes.

During rainy seasons, they may overflow.

In the summer, they may dry up.

The most important rivers are the Ebro, the Júcar, the Segura and de Llobregat

Ebro River

It is the most plentiful river of mediterranean watershed

Atlantic watershedAtlantic watershedIt occupies more than half area of

Spain.

The rivers have abundant flows and regular flows regimes.

In the summer they carry less water.

The most important rivers are the Miño, the Duero, the Tagus, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir