Describing a drainage basin that has no outlet to the sea, where water flows inward to a central depression and is lost through evaporation or underground seepage. These closed basins often contain salt lakes or dry lake beds.
From Greek 'endon' (within) and 'rhein' (to flow), coined by geographers in the early 20th century to distinguish closed drainage systems from those that reach the ocean. The concept became important as arid region studies expanded.
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