Talk:Confluence

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[edit] Consistent Use of term Tributary in Wikipedia

What is and What is not a tributary of a larger river or body of water? If there is no DIRECT connection between the so-called tributary and its parent water, is it a tributary? What I am looking for here is some consistent application of the term to articles on rivers and lakes within Wikipedia.

I personally believe that unless there is a DIRECT connection between the two named waters at a confluence, the lesser water should not be listed as a tributary of the greater water. For example: I would contend that the Firehole River in Wyoming is not a tributary of the Missouri River, but instead a tributary of the Madison River. If this logic is not applied, then articles about very large or significant waters might literally contain 1000's of tributary references. For example, if I were to include Rocky Creek as tributary of the Mississippi River, I would not be totally incorrect as it does flow into the E. Gallatin River, Gallatin River, Missouri River into the Mississippi.

I have posted this on the Tributary talk page as well. If there is a better place to post, let me know?

--Mike Cline 14:37, 4 May 2007 (UTC)