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Geography Step 4 of 11 beginner

Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density

Learn to recognise dendritic, trellis, radial and rectangular drainage patterns, and read what drainage density tells you about the rock and soil beneath.

By the end, you can

identify the major drainage patterns and explain what drainage density reveals about a basin.

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Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density

QUEST GEO-DRAINAGE-PATTERNS

Rivers draw a map of the rock

The shape a river system makes on a map is not random. It is the rock and the slope underneath, drawn in water. 💧

That is why this topic is worth marks: once you can read the pattern, you can say something about the geology you cannot see. A question that shows you a drainage map and asks what it suggests about the underlying rock is asking exactly this.

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What you'll cover

  1. 1 Rivers draw a map of the rockfree preview above
  2. 2 The basin and its boundary
  3. 3 Dendritic and trellis
  4. 4 Radial and rectangular
  5. 5 What drainage density measures
  6. 6 What controls drainage density
  7. 7 Answering the question in the exam
  8. 8 The challenge
  9. 9 What to take with you

Your certificate

Pass the challenge and it arrives straight away as a PDF. Add it to your CV or LinkedIn, and anyone can check it's real.

Certificate of completion

Your name here

has completed the MicroQuest

Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density

LCA-2026-••••••••

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Informal learning, not an accredited qualification.

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Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density: questions

How long does Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density take?
About 12 minutes: 9 short lessons, 2 quick checks and a 5-question final challenge. Your progress is saved after every step, so you can stop and carry on later.
How much does Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density cost?
R19, paid securely online, or 19 learning credits from your wallet. You pay once: if you don’t pass the challenge, you try again at no extra cost.
What do I need to pass?
4 out of 5 on the final challenge (80%). The quick checks along the way help you learn and do not count towards your mark.
Is the certificate accredited?
No. A MicroQuest is informal learning. Your certificate proves you completed it and has a number and QR code anyone can verify, but it is not an accredited qualification or SETA/QCTO credits, and it says so.
Can I do it on my phone?
Yes. Tap Start to learn in your phone’s browser, or send QUEST GEO-DRAINAGE-PATTERNS to 076 263 6000 on WhatsApp. It is the same MicroQuest and the same certificate either way.

Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density

R19 · 12 min · certificate

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