continental divides
Water flow separators
Continental divides are elevated ridgelines that separate drainage basins flowing to different oceans or seas.
In North America, the Continental Divide runs along the Rocky Mountains—water falling west of it flows toward the Pacific, water falling east toward the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.
Every continent has such divides, though North America's is the most commonly referenced.
Figuratively, a continental divide suggests a fundamental separation between two domains.
- passMove beyond or decline
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- riversFlowing bodies of water
river source · drainage basin · mountain range · high country · peaks · water table · rain shadow · hydrology · separation · crest · summit · biogeography · flow · national parks · natural landmarks · hiking trails · landforms · endemic species
- mountain boundariesridges, ridge lines, watersheds, peaks, summits
- mountain ridgesaretes, hogbacks, knife edges, razorbacks
- landformsmountain, cliff, valley, volcano, mountain ridge
- water featuresfountain, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds
continental dividesdrainage basins
Areas draining to one point
watersheds · catchment areas · river deltas · floodplains · aquifers
continental dividesocean basins
Large submarine depressions holding water
coastlines · river mouths · estuaries · deltas · continental shelves
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