<p>The river isn't splitting. The picture shows a number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_system_%28geomorphology%29">dendritic drainage</a> channels flowing into a larger river/stream. They are the most common form of topographical draining system. They develop in gently sloping topography and they ...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>develops in regions underlain by homogeneous material. That is, the subsurface geology has a similar resistance to weathering so there is no apparent control over the direction the tributaries take. Tributaries joining larger streams at acute angle (less than 90 degrees) <a href="http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/fluvial_systems/drainage_patterns.html">[Earth Drainage Systems]</a>. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>You'll notice in the picture all the drainage channels intersect the river at approximately 90 degrees. Also it appears the channels dendritic channels have formed in what looks like a sandy/silty sediment, again homogenous material.</p>

<p>Other sources that may be helpful:</p>

<p><a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01134037#page-1">Experiment to Examine Dendritic River Systems</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.researchgate.net/publication/229645434_Simulations_of_flows_and_water_depth_in_a_dendritic_river_system">Dendritic river flow simulations</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.researchgate.net/publication/229578245_FLOW_DIRECTION_AND_BRANCHING_GEOMETRY_AT_JUNCTIONS_IN_DENDRITIC_RIVER_NETWORKS*">Flow direction &amp; branching geometry</a></p>

<p><a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphy.2014.00009/full">Dendritic Design</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-16T18:03:09.570Z
Unfortunately, you got the direction of flow wrong.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-06T16:23:26.203Z
A lot of interesting information here, it'll take a while before I can go through them and get back.
Glacialis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-06T06:26:02.590Z
2015-02-06T06:31:33.100Z
2015-02-06T06:31:33.100Z
Fred
<p>It does look like a typical dendritic flow pattern of surface water flowing into a stream.  What is unusual for this pattern is that these channels seem to be entering the river at 90 degrees.  However, if the water is flowing out of the river through breaches in the bank or berm, then these branches would be carrying water and sediment out of the river and into a low lying area forming miniature deltas.  If you Google "delta flow pattern" you will see some pictures of this same pattern.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T12:58:01.413Z
2018-09-14T12:58:01.413Z
Hydroguy
<p>I noticed these detailed tree-like river structures in Google Earth</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/2NUtk.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/2NUtk.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@30.1207655,48.7767907,5751m/data=!3m1!1e3" rel="noreferrer">Google Maps link</a></p>

<p>How and why do these form?  Rivers don't typically split.  What would cause the water to keep branching off again and again, forming these tree-like fractal patterns?  I count as many as 7-8 branch splits even in the smaller trees.</p>

<p>I expect the answers will provide qualitative explanations, but if anyone can connect it to quantitative physical models that would be even better (e.g. diffusion limited aggregation, viscous fingering, dielectric breakdown all have analogous mechanisms behind them; could this one be related?)</p>

<hydrology><rivers><geomorphology>
How and why do these tree-like river structures form?
Glacialis
# How and why do these tree-like river structures form?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-06)

I noticed these detailed tree-like river structures in Google Earth

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/2NUtk.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/2NUtk.jpg)

[Google Maps link](https://www.google.com/maps/@30.1207655,48.7767907,5751m/data=!3m1!1e3)

How and why do these form? Rivers don't typically split. What would cause the water to keep branching off again and again, forming these tree-like fractal patterns? I count as many as 7-8 branch splits even in the smaller trees.

I expect the answers will provide qualitative explanations, but if anyone can connect it to quantitative physical models that would be even better (e.g. diffusion limited aggregation, viscous fingering, dielectric breakdown all have analogous mechanisms behind them; could this one be related?)

**Tags:** hydrology, rivers, geomorphology


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-06. Score: 17

The river isn't splitting. The picture shows a number of [dendritic drainage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_system_%28geomorphology%29) channels flowing into a larger river/stream. They are the most common form of topographical draining system. They develop in gently sloping topography and they ...

> develops in regions underlain by homogeneous material. That is, the subsurface geology has a similar resistance to weathering so there is no apparent control over the direction the tributaries take. Tributaries joining larger streams at acute angle (less than 90 degrees) [[Earth Drainage Systems]](http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/fluvial_systems/drainage_patterns.html).

You'll notice in the picture all the drainage channels intersect the river at approximately 90 degrees. Also it appears the channels dendritic channels have formed in what looks like a sandy/silty sediment, again homogenous material.

Other sources that may be helpful:

[Experiment to Examine Dendritic River Systems](http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01134037#page-1)

[Dendritic river flow simulations](http://www.researchgate.net/publication/229645434_Simulations_of_flows_and_water_depth_in_a_dendritic_river_system)

[Flow direction & branching geometry](http://www.researchgate.net/publication/229578245_FLOW_DIRECTION_AND_BRANCHING_GEOMETRY_AT_JUNCTIONS_IN_DENDRITIC_RIVER_NETWORKS*)

[Dendritic Design](http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphy.2014.00009/full)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: A lot of interesting information here, it'll take a while before I can go through them and get back.  
> **username_2**: Unfortunately, you got the direction of flow wrong.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-09-14. Score: 3

It does look like a typical dendritic flow pattern of surface water flowing into a stream. What is unusual for this pattern is that these channels seem to be entering the river at 90 degrees. However, if the water is flowing out of the river through breaches in the bank or berm, then these branches would be carrying water and sediment out of the river and into a low lying area forming miniature deltas. If you Google "delta flow pattern" you will see some pictures of this same pattern.


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