Tributaries Quiz | Physical Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Missouri River, itself a tributary of the Mississippi, forms part of the fourth largest river system in the world. Which of these rivers is, in turn, a tributary of the Missouri?

Answer: Platte

The Platte flows through Nebraska and joins the Missouri not far from Omaha. The Cimarron, in Oklahoma, is a tributary of the Arkansas. The Red River of the North flows into the Hudson Bay watershed, while the Salmon, in Idaho, is on the other side of the Continental Divide from the Missouri.

2. The Ohio River is one of many American rivers that share the name of a state. Which of these rivers, also sharing a state name, is a tributary of the Ohio?

Answer: Tennessee

The Tennessee flows into the Ohio at Paducah, Kentucky. The Illinois and Arkansas are both tributaries of the Mississippi. The Alabama joins the Tombigbee to form the Mobile and Tensaw Rivers, which empty into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Three of these rivers run directly to the sea; the fourth is a tributary of the mighty Amazon. Which river is the tributary?

Answer: Xingu

The Xingu flows northward 1300 mi.(2100 km.) and empties into the Amazon about 200 miles upstream from the Amazon's mouth. The Magdalena and Orinoco, principal rivers of Colombia and Venezuela respectively, flow into the Caribbean Sea. The S�o Francisco, most important river in northeastern Brazil, flows into the Atlantic.

4. The Paran� is the largest river of Argentina, flowing into the Rio de la Plata estuary. Which of these rivers is a tributary of the Paran�?

Answer: Paraguay

The Paraguay runs south through the country of that name, flowing past the capital of Asunci�n before joining the Paran�. The Madeira is a tributary of the Amazon, while the Tocantins flows into the Para Estuary adjacent to the Amazon delta. The Salado del Sur is a tributary of the Rio de la Plata.

5. Each of these rivers in France flowed past scenes of bloody fighting during World War I. Which of these is a tributary of the Seine?

Answer: Marne

The Marne joins the Seine at Paris. The Somme flows into the English Channel, while the Meuse flows north through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands (where it is known as the Maas) before emptying into the North Sea. The Moselle (Mosel in Germany) is a tributary of the Rhine.

6. Each of these rivers flow through or border upon Germany. Which river is a tributary of the Rhine?

Answer: Main

The Main flows westward through central Germany past Frankfurt, joining the Rhine at Mainz. The Inn is a tributary of the Danube. The Weser flows through northwestern Germany into the North Sea. The Oder forms part of the border between Germany and Poland, flowing into the Baltic Sea.

7. The Danube flows through many lands representing different languages and ethnicities of eastern Europe. Which of these rivers is a tributary of the Danube?

Answer: Sava

The Sava was the major river of the former Yugoslavia, flowing through Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia before joining the Danube at Belgrade. The Vltava (Moldau in German) is the main river of Bohemia in the Czech Republic; it is a tributary of the Elbe. The Vistula flows through Poland into the Baltic Sea. The Dniester flows through Ukraine and Moldova into the Black Sea.

8. The Congo is the second-longest river in Africa. Which of these rivers flows into it?

Answer: Ubangi

The Ubangi forms part of the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire) and the Republic of Congo, as well as the Central African Republic. The other rivers are in southern Africa.

9. Three of these rivers flow directly to the sea; the fourth is a tributary of the Ganges, holy river of India. Which river is the tributary?

Answer: Yamuna

The Yamuna flows past Delhi and Agra before joining the Ganges at Allahabad. The Indus flows through Pakistan into the Arabian Sea. The Irrawaddy (now officially the Ayeyarwady) and the Salween flow through Myanmar (formerly Burma) into the Andaman Sea.

10. The Murray River forms the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria before flowing into South Australia on its way to the sea. Which of these rivers is a tributary of the Murray?

Answer: Darling

The Darling, named after an early governor of New South Wales, is the longest river in Australia, flowing southwest through New South Wales to join the Murray. The Diamantina is a river in Queensland that drains toward the Lake Eyre basin. The Parramatta is the main river that empties into Sydney Harbour. The Swan flows through Perth, in Western Australia.

Source: Author cobb367

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Tributaries Trivia Quiz

This quiz refers to ten important rivers around the world. For each river can you identify a river that is its tributary?

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>