Chapter 28, Problem 20TE

To determine

The term continental divide.

Answer to Problem 20TE

A continental divide is an imagined line that distributes a landmass into two drainage areas.

Explanation of Solution

A drainage basin is an area that stores all of its runoff at one common outlet. These areas are determined on the basis of the runoff moving in the streams.

A continental divide is an imaginary line that splits a continent in a way that the drainage area on the side of the line serves into one water body and the drainage basin on the other side deposits water to the other ocean. The length of the dividing line depends on the size of the drainage basin. If the drainage area is very large, then the continental divide will be long, and it will be short if the drainage area is small.

Conclusion:

Therefore, a continental divide is an imagined line that distributes a landmass into two drainage areas.