What is a drainage pattern?

A drainage pattern refers to the arrangement of rivers, streams, and their tributaries within a particular geographical area. It depicts how water flows across the landscape, influenced by various factors such as topography, soil type, and climate. Different drainage patterns, such as dendritic, radial, and rectangular, help in understanding the geological characteristics of the region and how water movement affects the environment and land use.

The flow of water in a specific river describes the behavior of that river but does not encompass the broader arrangement of the entire network of water bodies. A map detailing human settlements near rivers focuses on the relationship between human activities and water bodies rather than their layout. Lastly, a list of rivers in a particular country simply enumerates the rivers without illustrating their spatial arrangement or connectivity, which is central to understanding drainage patterns.