Differentiate between tributary and distributary?
Answers
Tributary : A tributary is a small stream of river. It is formed of springs, nallahs, fountains etc. It meets to the main river
at a certain place. E.g. Confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati at Prayag.
Distributary : The water of the main river when finds no channels to flow forward, particularly when the silt, sediments
and alluvium deposited at its mouth so enough as its forward flow is restricted; the force of river then cuts several small
channels. These channels thus, distribute the integral force of the main river in several streams. E.g. Braided bed of
Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in Assam and Bengal regions.
Hence, functionally, a tributary and a distributary are opposite to each-other. The former adds to while the later reduces
to the force of the main river.