Common River Terms Source – The place where a river begins. Course – The route the river takes to the sea Tributary – A small river that joins a larger river. Confluence – The point where the tributary joins the river.

Common River Terms Mouth – The point where the river enters the sea. Estuary – The part of the mouth that is tidal. Basin – The area of land drained by a river. Watershed – The high ground separating one river basin from another.

The River’s Journey Rivers usually begin in the mountains. They flow downhill onto flat land and into the sea.

The Shannon’s Journey The River Shannon is Ireland’s longest river. It flows from the Cuilcagh Mountains in Co. Leitrim to the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast of Ireland.

The Stages of a River’s Journey As the river flows from it’s source to the sea it goes through 3 stages. These are, The Upper or Youthful Stage The Middle or Mature Stage The Lower or Old Stage

The Youthful River The youthful river has a small amount of water but it travels very quickly down the steep mountain slope. Most of its energy is used to erode (wear away) the landscape. This erosion (wearing away) occurs in 4 ways.

4 Processes of River Erosion Hydraulic Action – The force of the moving water wears away the banks and bed of the river. Abrasion – Small stones carried by the river wear away at the the banks and bed of the river.

4 Processes of River Erosion Attrition – The small stones in the river are worn down and broken up as they hit off each other. Solution – Rocks and soil are dissolved by acids in the water.