Difference Between River and Stream
About 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all the water on Earth. Sea, rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds, including oceans, circulate the water of the Earth to revive the living beings of the planet. Although there is a difference between river and streams, no official or scientific guidelines are needed, as one of the most general differences between them is that rivers are large in size compared to streams.
A river is a natural stream, usually a reservoir of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake, or any other river, while the creek is a smaller and shallower stream compared to the river. It is often called a minor tributary of the river. A creek is defined as a narrow waterway between islands.
Comparison chart
| River | Dry riverbed | |
| Defined as | A river is a natural steam, usually a reservoir of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake or any other river. | A narrow, sheltered waterway, especially an inlet on a shoreline or a channel in a swamp, is called a stream. |
| Size | Plus | Less |
| fresh or salt water | Rivers are generally freshwater reservoirs. | Streams can also have salt water when they are formed with seawater. |
| Use | Multi-purpose, can be used for transportation, power generation. | Shallow water does not have such prominent benefits. |
| branches | Yes | Nope |
What is River?
A river is a natural steam, usually a reservoir of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake, ocean, or any other river. They are also recognized as one of the largest reservoirs of fresh water. In ancient times, different civilizations settled by the rivers as the river bank was used for multiple tasks.
Even the invaders or the other civilizations clashed with the riparian civilizations to seize the rivers. The Nile Valley, the Indus Valley Ganges Civilization, the Huong He Civilization, and many other riverside civilizations. In general, rivers have fresh water and are large, that’s why they were used for life purposes, such as the use of fresh water in agriculture and housework,
What is Creek?
Creek is recognized as the narrow inter-island waterway that is often called a minor tributary of the river. They are commonly said to be smaller and shallower compared to rivers, although streams exist in the US and other areas that are quite larger compared to rivers. Surprisingly, there are various takes on what streams are, so in different areas of the world streams are defined differently.
In North America and New Zealand, a smaller stream of water is called a stream. In the UK and India scenario, a narrow entrance to the sea is called a creek. In Australia, a stream of water almost the size of a river is said to be a stream. Generally, streams are formed by river water after it is divided into small streams such as creek, creek,
river against stream
- A river is a natural steam, usually a reservoir of fresh water that flows in a channel to the sea, lake or any other river, while the creek is a smaller and shallower stream compared to the river.
- Creek is often called a minor tributary of a river.
- Generally, River is a stream larger than a creek.
- The river flows in a channel and even divides into small streams such as creeks, creeks, or creeks.
- Rivers are generally freshwater reservoirs, while streams can also have salt water when formed from seawater.
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