upper reaches
River's starting stretch
The upper reaches are the parts of a river or stream closest to its source, where the water is typically narrower, shallower, and faster-moving: We paddled into the upper reaches of the Amazon.
Figuratively, upper reaches refers to the highest levels of any hierarchy or domain: the upper reaches of government, the upper reaches of society.
Stream entering larger river
- confluenceMeeting point of streams
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- fountainheadOriginal source of something
source · brook · streamlet · rivulet · creek · freshwater · aquifer · inflow
Toward a river's origin
- currentDirected flow of charge
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- channelPassage for transmission
- meanderTo travel without direction
riparian · streambed · riverbank · fluvial · hydrology · navigable · torrent · rapids
Not contacted or affected
- wildernessUncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- unspoiledNot damaged or degraded
- virginOne sexually inexperienced
- pureUnmixed, without impurities
intact · preserved · sanctuary · undeveloped · undisturbed · uncontaminated · unpolluted · crystal-clear
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- peakUtmost height attained
- alpineOf high elevations
- elevationHeight above reference point
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
highland · plateau · escarpment · cordillera · massif · pinnacle · crag · tor
Separated from others
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- secludedSet apart, private
- far-flungScattered over vast areas
- uninhabitedHaving no occupants
uncharted · outlying · frontier · hidden · sparse · expedition · bushwhacking · trailless
tributary
Stream entering larger river
- confluenceMeeting point of streams
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- springRecoiling metal spiral
fountainhead · source · brook · streamlet · rivulet · creek · freshwater · aquifer · inflow · seepage
upstream
Toward a river's origin
meander · riparian · streambed · riverbank · fluvial · hydrology · navigable · torrent · rapids · cascade
untouched
Not contacted or affected
- wildernessUncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- unspoiledNot damaged or degraded
- virginOne sexually inexperienced
pure · intact · preserved · sanctuary · undeveloped · undisturbed · uncontaminated · unpolluted · crystal-clear · protected
summit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
ridge · highland · plateau · escarpment · cordillera · massif · pinnacle · crag · tor · altitude
isolated
Separated from others
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- secludedSet apart, private
- far-flungScattered over vast areas
uninhabited · uncharted · outlying · frontier · hidden · sparse · expedition · bushwhacking · trailless · roadless
upper reacheslower reaches
River portion near mouth
delta · river mouth · estuary · tidewater · floodplain
upper reacheslower reaches
River portion near mouth
depths · bottom · base · nadir · foundations
upper, reach, reaches, upward, upwards, uppermost, reached, reaching, reachable