Distributary

Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, with the flow from right to left, showing several streams branching off from their main streams

A distributary, or a distributary channel is a stream channel that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. It is the opposite of a tributary, a stream that flows towards and into another stream or river. Distributaries are a result of river bifurcation and are often found where a river approaches a lake or an ocean and divides into distributary networks; as such they are a common feature of river deltas.[1] They can also occur inland, on alluvial fans, or where a tributary stream bifurcates as it nears its confluence with a larger stream. In some cases, a minor distributary can divert so much water from the main channel that it can later become the main route.

  1. ^ Seybold, Hansjörg; Andrade Jr., José; Hermann, Hans (23 October 2007). H. Eugene Stanley (ed.). "Modeling river delta formation". Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. 103 (43). Boston. arXiv:0711.3283. doi:10.1073/pnas.0705265104.