River source facts for kids

A stream source

The source of a river or stream is the very first place where it begins to flow. Think of it as the starting line for a river's long journey! A river's source can be many things. It might be a lake, a wet, spongy area called a marsh, a natural spring where water bubbles up from the ground, or even a melting glacier.

The source is the point farthest away from where the river ends. A river usually ends by flowing into the sea, a lake, or another river. The place where a river meets the sea is called its river mouth. Sometimes, the mouth forms a wide, fan-shaped area known as a river delta.

Rivers often get bigger as they flow because smaller streams join them. These smaller streams are called tributaries. The stream that is farthest from the river's mouth, and is considered the very beginning, is called the head-stream or headwater.

Where Do Rivers Begin?

Rivers can start in different types of places.

• Lakes: Sometimes, a large lake is considered the source of a major river. For example, Lake Victoria is often called the source of the Nile River. This is because many smaller rivers flow into Lake Victoria, but the main Nile River flows out of it.
• Mountains: Many headwaters are found high up in mountains. The water often comes from rain or melting snow and ice.
• Glaciers: Some rivers start from melting glaciers. As the ice melts, it forms small streams that grow into rivers.
• Springs and Marshes: Water can also bubble up from underground springs or collect in marshy, wet areas, forming the start of a stream.

Finding the True Source

It can sometimes be tricky to figure out the exact "true" source of a river. This is because many small streams and tributaries feed into a river. People might disagree about which tiny stream is the very first one, making it hard to pinpoint the single farthest point.

Images for kids

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  River Wey near its source at Farringdon

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  A stone near Crissolo, Italy, showing where the Po river begins.

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  The Rhume Spring, which is the source of the Rhume river.

See also

In Spanish: Fuente de origen de un río para niños