What is a Tributary?

A tributary is a stream or river which flows into a parent river. The place where a tribuatary joins the parent river is called the confluence.

Some tributaries are little more than trickles in the land, like the one seen at/near the source of the River Severn. Other tributaries are sizable rivers in their own right e.g. the River Avon

All tributaries drain water, along with any substances which might have dissolved in the water, such as silt, decaying organic material, and pollution from places like farms, sewage treatment plants, and factories built along the banks of the tributary.

The River Severn basin

As is the case with most rivers, nearly all of the water flowing in the River Severn originates from its tributaries. These streams and small rivers channel the rainfall and snowmelt from an area of 11,420 sq km / 4,409 sq miles ( the drainage basin of the River Severn)

The Tributaries of the River Severn

The Tributaries of the River Severn and where they join the river:

1. Afon Clywedog joins the Severn at Llanidloes
2. River Camlad joins the Severn near Camlad
3. River Vyrnwy joins the Severn at Melverley, Shropshire
4. River Perry joins the Severn at Montford Bridge
5. Rea Brook joins the Severn at Shrewsbury
6. River Tern joins the Severn at Attingham Park
7. Cound Brook joins the Severn at Eyton on Severn
8. Sheinton Brook joins the Severn at Sheinton
9. River Worfe joins the Severn above Bridgnorth
10. Borle Brook joins the Severn at Arley
11. Dowles Brook joins the Severn above Kidderminster
12. River Stour joins the Severn at Stourport-on-Severn
13. River Salwarpe joins the Severn above Worcester
14. River Teme joins the Severn downstream of Worcester
15. Warwickshire Avon joins the Severn at Tewkesbury
16. River Chelt joins the River Severn at Wainlode
17. River Leadon joins the Severn at Over
18. River Frome joins the Severn at Upper Framilode
19. River Wye joins the Severn at Chepstow
20. Bristol Avon flows into the Severn through the Avon Gorge
21. River Usk flows into the Severn estuary just south of Newport

Follow this link to see photos of the tributaries of the River Severn

Did you know? ...
Most rivers are tributaries, which means they join rivers before they reach the sea.

Key Vocabulary

Tributary
Streams and small rivers that feed a river are called tributaries.

Drainage Basin
The land area drained by a river. The entire system of tributaries that feed a river makes up the drainage basin.