The Kingdom of Benin Early peoples and ancient societies: African peoples 185

5

TheWorldof Water

to identify the features of a river to become more familiar with waterways in our local environment about major rivers and seas in Ireland, Europe and the wider world.

angling, aquaculture, delta, erosion, estuary, meander, mouth, river basin, source, tributary, wharf Water is essential to all living things. It is just as well that around 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water bodies, such as rivers, lakes and oceans!

Features of a river

Upper course

Source: Starting point of the river (usually mountains or uplands) Waterfall: Where the water flows over a cliff Tributary: Smaller river or stream that joins the river

Middle course

Meander: Wide bend in the river, formed by erosion of the riverbank by stones and debris carried in the water Riverbanks: Areas of land immediately to the sides of the river

Lower course

Floodplain: Areas of flatland alongside the river that often flood during heavy rainfall Delta: Where the river divides into several smaller rivers, all flowing into the sea Estuary: Where the salt water of the sea mixes with the fresh water of the river Mouth: Where the river meets the sea River basin: The entire area of land that drains into a river (including the tributaries)