Describing a branching pattern that resembles a tree, with tributaries joining a main channel like branches connecting to a trunk. This is the most common drainage pattern, occurring in areas of uniform rock resistance and gentle slopes.
From Greek 'dendron' meaning 'tree,' first used in geology in the 1830s to describe tree-like mineral formations. The term expanded to describe river systems as aerial photography revealed the striking similarity between river networks and tree structures.
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