What are small streams in marshy areas created when a river splits called?
a) Distributaries
b) Estuaries
c) Canyons
d) Springs
Answer: a) Distributaries
Explanation
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Distributaries: In marshy delta regions or river mouths where water velocity slows down and heavy sediment settles, the main river channel frequently splits into smaller branching channels that flow away from the main stream. In flat, coastal marshlands, these network channels are classic distributaries.
Overview of Other Options
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b) Estuaries: Semi-enclosed coastal bodies of water where freshwater from rivers mixes freely with tidal saltwater from the ocean.
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c) Canyons: Deep, narrow valleys with steep rock walls carved over long periods by the erosive action of rivers (such as the Gandikota Canyon carved by the Pennar River).
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d) Springs: Points where groundwater naturally emerges from the Earth’s surface to form the source of a stream or river.
