What is a smaller stream or river that joins a larger main river called?
a) Distributary
b) Tributary
c) Estuary
d) Delta
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Answer: b) Tributary
Explanation
- Tributary: A stream or smaller river that flows into and joins a larger parent river or lake. Tributaries do not flow directly into an ocean or sea; instead, they contribute their volume to the primary river system (e.g., the Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga).
Overview of Other Options
- a) Distributary: A branch of a river that breaks away and flows away from the main river channel, typically near its delta or mouth (e.g., the Hooghly is a distributary of the Ganga).
- c) Estuary: A partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean (e.g., at the mouths of the Narmada and Tapti rivers).
- d) Delta: A triangular landform created by heavy sediment deposition where a river slows down as it enters a standing body of water like a sea or ocean (e.g., the Sundarbans Delta).
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