An area of land that collects and drains rainwater and snowmelt into a common outlet such as a river, lake, or ocean. Also called a watershed or drainage basin.
From 'catch' + '-ment' suffix, literally meaning 'the act or result of catching.' The term originated in 19th-century British hydrology to describe areas that 'catch' precipitation and channel it to a single drainage point.
Every drop of rain that falls in the Rocky Mountain catchment of the Colorado River might end up in someone's glass in Los Angeles, 1,000 miles away! Catchment boundaries often cross multiple states and countries, making water management a complex geographic and political challenge.
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