Rivers on OS maps
The map extract shows the River Cree in south-west Scotland. By following the route of the river, it is possible to describe the main physical featureA natural landform.. When describing river features we mean natural features not man-made ones.
In this OS map extract:
- At 400670 the River Cree joins the map. It is flowing in a south-easterly direction. We know this because the river gets wider as it nears the estuary/mouth of the river.
- At 410664 a tributary joins the river at a confluenceThe meeting point where one river joins onto another river.. The river now flows south around an islandAn area of land surrounded by water.. The valley is relatively narrow (you can see contour lineLine on a map joining points of equal height above sea level - thus representing the slope of the land. close to the river on both sides).
- At 416647 the river becomes tidalWhen a rivers flow and level is influenced by tides.. We know this because the edge of the river changes from blue to black.
- At 417642 there is a meander. The river valley now broadens out to more than two kilometres wide, covering two grid squares.
- At 422641 the river begins a series of large meanders. There is an embankmentA natural or man-made area of land at the side of a river bank. on the south bank of the river - this could be a natural 濒别惫茅别sNatural embankments made up of silt which are built up at the sides of a river..
- The neck of the meander at 425637 could eventually be broken through by the river to form an oxbow lake.
- At 429640 the river starts to widen and mud/silt is showing in its bed.
- Many tributaryA small river that joins the main river channel. now join the river 鈥 434623 (the Brushy Burn) 441627 (The Lane) 453624 (Palnure Burn).
- The river is now flowing in a very flat, wide and low-lying valley (7m and 5m spot heights). This has resulted in marsh landLand which is water-logged and often boggy. at 452612, 456606 and 465590.
- The river enters its estuaryThe open mouth of the river where it meets the sea. at 467580.