I don't really understand why rivers don't run straight like highways... anyone know?
2007-05-13 13:12:09 · 5 answers · asked by nicokyu 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Because they do not have to, first and foremost.
As water flows, it digs its path into terrain, wich is not uniform. Rocks in the way? The the river has to veer off.
Further, any little bend in the river tends to grow, as the flow is stronger on the outisde of the curve, increasing the rate of erosion. This, in turn, makes the bend larger, to the point where a river will snake until it cust into itself, constantly changing its path.
2007-05-13 13:17:35 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rivers follow the path of least resistance. A rock or a hill in its path will make the river flow around the obstacle. The river will also flow towards the equator when it it is convienant (note the Nile crosses the Equator) and will always flow from higher elevations to lower elevations.
2007-05-13 22:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin k 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People don't build rivers. They transport water from places at high elevations to places at low elevation. Moreover, they transport water from an area called a watershed. The path the river takes has to be on a decline, which in the watershed is hardly ever in a straight line.
2007-05-13 20:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They (the rivers) are following the contours of the earth.
2007-05-13 20:19:20 · answer #4 · answered by hobo 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they follow the natural slopeof earth's surface.
2007-05-13 22:04:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋