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2.6.1 Dendritic Drainage

A dendritic drainage pattern occurs when the tributary systems subdivides headway like the limbs of a tree. These patterns usually form in horizontal sedimentary or in intrusive igneous rocks where the rock mass is reasonably homogeneous. The tributaries in steep terrains tend to be somewhat subparallel and join at acute angles. Any marked structure (joints, faulting) will tend to interfere with the development of the dendritic drainage pattern.


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Dendritic drainage pattern
Dendritic drainage pattern
Thornbury, W. D.
Principles of Geomorphology.
John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1966.
Dendritic drainage pattern  Dendritic drainage pattern  Aerial view of drainage pattern of Peacos River, Texas.  Dendritic drainage pattern, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming. 

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