A branch of a river that flows away from the main channel rather than joining it, typically occurring on a delta or an alluvial fan where the reduced gradient and heavy sediment load cause the river to split into multiple smaller channels. A distributary is the mirror opposite of a tributary, which flows into a river rather than away from it.
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Source Distributary (Wikipedia)
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Distributary (Wikipedia)
Shaped By: Delta Formation, Formation statement for target 287621Quote, Shaped By: Delta Formation, Formation statement for target 287621
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.
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