Sinking_river

Losing stream

Losing stream

Stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream


A losing stream, disappearing stream, influent stream or sinking river is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream. The water infiltrates into the ground recharging the local groundwater, because the water table is below the bottom of the stream channel. This is the opposite of a more common gaining stream (or effluent stream) which increases in water volume farther downstream as it gains water from the local aquifer.

Losing streams are common in arid areas due to the climate which results in huge amounts of water evaporating from the river generally towards the mouth.[1] Losing streams are also common in regions of karst topography where the streamwater may be completely captured by a cavern system, becoming a subterranean river.

Examples

The cave of source of the Buna can be entered by boat and dived through a cave system serving as an effluence of the Zalomka.
Map of the lost streams of Idaho

There are many natural examples of subterranean rivers including:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany

New Zealand

United States

See also


References

  1. "Devon Karst: Karst of the Dinaric Alps - the Dinarides in Bosnia and Herzegovina". devonkarst.org.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. "Devon Karst: Gatačko Polje - GP-Ponor Dobrelji". devonkarst.org.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

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