Patricia Acker, Age 13, Of Pinaha, Neb., for her question;

What is meant by a watershed area?

A river gathers its waters from the streams and tributaries that join it on its journey to the sea. A lake or a system of lakes also gathers its water from surrounding streams. In gathering up the water from far and near, a river or lake drains the rainfall and melting snow from a wide area in all directions.

This area is called a watershed, a word which originally meant a parting of the waters. The watershed of the great lakes is the vast area in the center of North America that sends its drainage to these lakes. Almost touching this drainage system is the watershed of the mighty Mississippi River. The drainage system of the Amazon River in South America is the largest watershed in the world..