View source for Triple divide

{{short description|Point where three drainage basins meet}}
{{distinguish|Triple junction}}
{{GeoGroup}}

[[File:Ocean drainage.png|thumb|400px|Map showing worldwide drainage basins and triple divides]]
A '''triple divide''' or '''triple watershed''' is a point on the Earth's surface where three [[drainage basin]]s meet. A triple divide results from the intersection of two [[drainage divide]]s. Triple divides range from [[topographic prominence|prominent]] mountain peaks to minor side peaks, down to simple slope changes on a ridge which are otherwise unremarkable.  The elevation of a triple divide can be thousands of meters to barely above sea level. Triple divides are a common hydrographic feature of any terrain that has rivers, streams and/or lakes.

Topographic triple divides do not necessarily respect the [[groundwater|underground path of water]]. Thus, depending on the infiltration and the different geological layers, the hydrologic triple divide is often offset from the topographic triple divide.

A '''hydrological apex''' is a triple divide whose waters flow into three different [[ocean]]s.

==North America==
[[Image:NorthAmerica-WaterDivides.png|thumb|300px|upright=1.4|Triple Divide Peak and Snow Dome are major triple divides of North America]]
[[File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Triple Divide.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Landmark at the triple divide in [[Potter County, Pennsylvania|Potter County]], [[Pennsylvania]].]]
[[File:Triple-pass-divide-thumb.jpg|thumb|200px|Triple Divide Peak, Montana]]
[[File:Snow Dome+Dome Glacier.jpg|thumb|200px|Snow Dome, British Columbia]]
North America has 3 triple divides in the United States which are intersections of continental divides, and a fourth one in British Columbia. Waters at these triple divides flow into three different oceans, seas or gulfs.
[[Triple Divide Peak (Montana)|Triple Divide Peak]] in Montana is considered the triple divide "hydrological apex" of North America, though [[Snow Dome (Canada)|Snow Dome]] on the [[Alberta]]-[[British Columbia]] border also has a claim depending on how the Arctic and Atlantic oceans are defined.  North America is the only continent that has a triple point dividing basins draining into three different oceans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=1750 |title=Ocean Triple Divide Points |publisher=Peakbagger.com|accessdate=2017-07-01}}(dead link)</ref>  Where the Continental Divide splits and joins to form the boundary of the Great Divide Basin, it forms two triple points.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Triple Divides of North America
|-
!Landmark name
!Coordinates
!Location
!Watersheds
!Divides
!Refs
|-
|[[Triple Divide Peak (Montana)|Triple Divide Peak]]
|{{coord|48|34|23|N|113|31|00|W|type:mountain_region:US-MT_scale:100000|format=dms|name=Triple Divide Peak}}
|[[Flathead County]], Montana
|[[Columbia River]], [[Mississippi River]], [[Nelson River]]
|[[Continental Divide of the Americas]] and [[Laurentian Divide]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/a7e142b0-25de-518f-88ae-05724f8046bf/summary|title=Triple Divide Peak|website=USGS GNIS|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|Unnamed hill
|{{coord|41.8467340|-77.8372183|format=dms|name=Unnamed hill in Potter County, PA}}
|[[Potter County, Pennsylvania]]
|[[Allegheny River]], [[Susquehanna River]], [[Genesee River]]
|[[Eastern Continental Divide]] and [[Saint Lawrence River Divide]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uncoveringpa.com/triple-continental-divide|title=Triple Continental Divide|website=Uncovering Pennsylvania|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/summary/1201370|website=[[USGS]] [[GNIS]]|title=Triple Divide|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Hill of Three Waters]]
|{{coord|47|26.863|N|92|56.8|W|format=dms|name=Hill of Three Waters}}
|approximately 2 miles north of [[Hibbing, Minnesota]]
|[[Big Fork River]], [[Red River (St. Louis River tributary)|Red River]]
|[[Saint Lawrence River Divide]] and [[Laurentian Divide]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=27715|website=Historical Markers Database|title=Hill of Three Waters or Triple Divide|access-date=December 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Snow Dome (Canada)|Snow Dome]]
|{{coord|52|11|13|N|117|19|01|W|type:mountain_region:CA-AB_scale:100000|format=dms|name=Snow Dome}}
|[[British Columbia]]
|[[Columbia River]], [[Mackenzie River]], [[Nelson River]]
|Continental Divide of the Americas and Arctic Divide
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/N-14.01.pdf|title=Canada National Parks Act (S.C. 2000, c. 32)|work=Schedule 1 - National Parks of Canada|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=2021-03-21}}</ref>
|-
|Eastern divide termination
|{{coord|30|15.146|N|082|23.578|W|format=dms|name=Eastern Continental Divide termination}})
|near [[Kissimmee, Florida]]
|[[Kissimmee River]], [[Miami River (Florida)|Miami River]], [[Withlacoochee River (Florida)|Withlacoochee River]]
|[[endorheic basin]] of [[Lake Okeechobee]] and the Eastern Continental Divide
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5DG4M_cresting-the-continental-divide-in-florida?guid=fad83b43-51af-47c1-a7d4-76a9c2acef93|website=GeoCaching|title=Cresting the Continental Divide – In Florida?|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Great Divide Basin]] north
|{{coord|42|00|01|N|107|59|02|W|display=inline|name=Great Divide Basin North}}
|Wyoming, where the Continental Divide spits and joins to form the boudary of the Great Divide Basin
|[[Green River (Colorado River tributary)|Green River]] watershed west of basin, draining to the Gulf of California/Pacific Ocean; [[North Platte River|North Platte]] watershed east of the basin, draining to the Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic Ocean
|Continental Divide of the Americas, Great Divide Basin
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsgs.wyo.gov/public-info/guide-green-river-basin.aspx|website=Wyoming State Geological Survey|title=The Great Divide and Green River Basins|access-date=December 30, 2021|author=Francis, Julie}}</ref>
|-
|Great Divide Basin south
|{{coord|33.1427458|-107.8545162|format=dms|name=Reeds Peak, NM}}
|[[Reeds Peak Lookout Tower|Reeds Peak]], [[New Mexico]]<ref name=Guzman>where the Continental Divide splits in New Mexico and joins in Chihuahua, Mexico, to form the boundary of Guzman Basin, are two triple points</ref>
|Colorado, Rio Grande, Guzman basins
|Continental Divide of the Americas, Great Divide Basin
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/e04132a7-375a-51fa-a317-d402e8a75ba7/summary|title=Reeds Peak|website=USGS GNIS|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|Chihuahua rim, Great Divide Basin south
|{{coord|31|19|56.9|N|108|45|21.5|W|format=dms|name=Chihuahua Rim}}
|[[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Mexico]]<ref name=Guzman />
|Colorado, Rio Grande, Guzman, Great Divide basin
|Continental Divide of the Americas, Great Divide Basin
|<ref name=Tripoint>{{cite web|url=https://highpointers.org/us-tripoint-guide/#list_mexico|title=List|website=High Pointers|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|}

If the Gulf of California is considered distinct from the Pacific Coastal watershed, the divide between the Colorado River basin and Pacific basin forms two triple points:
* [[Three Waters Mountain]], [[Wyoming]] ([[Colorado River|Colorado]], [[Columbia River|Columbia]], [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]), {{coord|43|23|37|N|109|47|09|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline|name=Three Waters Mountain}}<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1603660|name=Three Waters Mountain|access-date=August 25, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Salt River Range|Commissary Ridge]] triple divide, Wyoming (Colorado, Columbia, Great Basin)({{coord|42.588347|-110.735839|format=dms|name=Commissary Ridge}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5429|title=Commissary Ridge Triple Point|website=Peak Bagger|access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref>

Other points are often considered to be triple divides because they separate basins of continental rivers.
*[[Headwaters Hill]] in [[Saguache County, Colorado]], near Chester ([[Arkansas River]], [[Rio Grande River]], Colorado River). This point has only a weak claim to being a continental triple divide because both the Rio Grande and Arkansas Rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico. ({{coord|38.3477709|-106.2530695|format=dms|name=Headwaters Hill}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/76132c4f-b23c-5b49-9bc2-f8beda71c009/summary|title=Headwaters Hill|website=USGS}}</ref>

The highest elevation ({{cvt|13,240|ft|order=flip|disp=or}}) significant triple divide in the lower 48 states of the United States, located in Kings Canyon National Park in Fresno/Inyo counties, California, is a sub-peak of Mount Wallace of the central Sierra Nevada:
* [[Crumbly Spire]] or [[Mount Wallace (Fresno and Inyo counties, California)|Mount Wallace]] South Peak, Fresno/Inyo counties, California ([[South Fork San Joaquin River]], [[San Joaquin River]], [[Owens River]]) ({{coord|37.141188|-118.654119|format=dms|name=Crumbly Spire}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=2696|title=Crumbly Spire|website=Peak Bagger|access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref>

Numerous other triple divide points result from intersection of river basin divides, including:
* [[Young Lick Knob]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] ([[Savannah River|Savannah]], [[Apalachicola River|Apalachicola]], Mississippi) ({{coord|34|49|22|N|83|39|09|W|type:mountain_region:US|format=dms|name=Young Lick Knob}})


[[File:SouthAmerica-ContinentalDivide.png|thumb|250px|Continental Divide of the Americas in South America]]
==South America==

There are triple points in South America where the divide splits.

==Europe==

[[File:Pass Lunghin.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Landmark at [[Lunghin Pass]] in [[Canton of Grisons|Grisons]], [[Switzerland]].]]
* [[Witenwasserenstock]], [[Switzerland]]: ([[Po (river)|Po]], [[Rhine]], [[Rhône]]) ({{coord|46|31|41.9|N|8|28|27.3|E|type:mountain_region:CH_scale:100000|format=dms|name=Witenwasserenstock}})
* [[Lunghin Pass]]/[[Piz Lunghin]], [[Switzerland]]: ([[Danube]], [[Po (river)|Po]], [[Rhine]]), {{coord|46|24|48.71|N|9|39|48.53|E|format=dms|name=Lunghin Pass}})
* [[Langres]] Plateau, [[France]]: the exact point is at {{coord|47|56|29.2|N|5|30|17.2|E|format=dms|name=Langres Plateau Triple Divide}} ([[Meuse]]-[[Rhine]] to [[North Sea]], [[Seine (river)|Seine]] to [[English Channel|the Channel]], [[Tille (river)|Tille]]-[[Saône]]-[[Rhône]] to [[Mediterranean Sea]])
* [[Morgan's Hill]], [[England]], {{coord|51.4034|-1.9615|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Morgan's Hill}}<ref name="NatEng">{{cite web |url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1000062.pdf |title=Morgan's Hill: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 |date=30 January 1987 |website=Natural England|department=Designated Sites|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>
*[[Trójmorski Wierch]] (formerly Klepáč) in [[Snieznik Mountains]], [[Sudetes]], border of the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Poland]]: ([[Morava (river)|Morava]]=>[[Danube]] to the [[Black Sea]], [[Orlice]]=>[[Elbe]] to the [[North Sea]], [[Eastern Neisse|Nysa]]=>[[Oder]] to the [[Baltic Sea]]), {{coord|50|09|27.01|N|16|47|27|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|name=Klepáč}}<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Staffa |editor1-first=Marek |title=Słownik geografii turystycznej Sudetów, vol. 16: Masyw Śnieżnika i Góry Bialskie |date=1989 |publisher=PTTK Kraj |isbn=8370053416 |language=Polish}}</ref>

==Africa==
* An [[Congo-Nile Divide#Northern section: Sudan|unnamed hill]] on the border between the [[Central African Republic]] and [[South Sudan]]: the exact point is at {{coord|09|08|24|N|23|28|07|E|format=dms|name=Congo-Nile-Lake Chad Triple Divide}} ([[Congo River|Congo]], [[Nile River|Nile]], [[Lake Chad]]). At this point meet the second, third and eighth largest drainage basins in the world, making it one of the most important triple divides on earth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barbour|first=K.M.|title=Essays on African Population|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0YVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA319|access-date=2013-05-04
 |year=1961|publisher=Taylor & Francis|chapter=  A Geographical Analysis of Boundaries in Inter-Tropical Africa|id=GGKEY:W5HTG750C3U}}</ref>

== Australia ==
Australia has two Continental Drainage Divide Tripoints, both close to each other along Queensland's [[Great Dividing Range]]. Both are named after two 1845 exploration party leaders who sought to solve the question of Australia's rivers, [[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] and [[Edmund Kennedy]]. Both Tripoints are considered Hydrological Apex Points falling to major oceans and basins.
* Mitchell Junction is in [[North Queensland]], on Triple C Pastoral Station, near the [[White Mountains National Park]]. Water falling on the tripoint can flow either to the Pacific Ocean via the [[Burdekin River]], to the [[Indian Ocean]], via the [[Flinders River]] flowing to the [[Gulf Of Carpentaria]] and the [[Indonesian Throughflow]] and lastly to [[Lake Eyre]] via Cooper Creek. approximately {{coord|-20.349540608585798|145.05459085035665|format=dms|name=Mitchell Junction}}
* Kennedy Junction is in [[Central Queensland]], on [[Caldervale, Queensland|Caldervale Station]], near [[Carnarvon National Park]]. Water falling on the tripoint can flow either to the Pacific Ocean via the [[Fitzroy River (Queensland)|Fitzroy River]], to the Southern Ocean, via [[Murray–Darling basin|Murray/Darling River]] and to [[Lake Eyre]] via [[Cooper Creek]]. {{coord|-24.9227|146.8241|type:city_region:AU-QLD|format=dms|name=Kennedy Junction}}<ref>{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=9 June 2019}}</ref>

==Asia==

Asia is dominated by endorheic basins.  There is a point in southern China where the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and endorheic basins meet and another point in northern China where the Pacific Ocean, endorheic and Arctic Ocean basins meet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aquadoc.typepad.com/files/water-09-00798-1.pdf|title=Essentials of Endorheic Basins and Lakes: A Review in the Context of Current and Future Water Resource Management and Mitigation Activities in Central Asia, Figure 1, page 2|website=Journal of Water|access-date=December 28, 2021}}</ref>

==Antarctica==

The Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans touch the shores of Antarctica.   [[Dome Argus]] is the highest point in the East Antarctic ice sheet and could be considered a triple divide if you assume that the ice forms a watershed. ({{coord|80|22|S|77|21|E|type:mountain_region:AQ_scale:100000|format=dms|name=Dome Argus}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=12364|title=Dome Argus|website=Peak Bagger|access-date=December 28, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Continental divide]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{Cite book|title=Landscape Evolution in the United States: An Introduction to the Geography, Geology, and Natural History|author=Joseph A. DiPietro|publisher=Newnes|date=2012-12-21}}

[[Category:Drainage basins]]
[[Category:Hydrology]]
[[Category:Drainage divides]]