Stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream
A losing stream, disappearing stream, influent stream or sinking river is a
stream or
river that loses water as it flows downstream. The water
infiltrates into the ground recharging the local
groundwater, because the
water table is below the bottom of the stream channel. This is the opposite of a more common gaining stream (or effluent stream) which increases in water volume farther downstream as it gains water from the local
aquifer.
Losing streams are common in arid areas due to the climate which results in huge amounts of water evaporating from the river generally towards the mouth.[1] Losing streams are also common in regions of
karst topography where the streamwater may be completely
captured by a
cavern system, becoming a
subterranean river.
There are two rivers in Idaho, the
Big Lost River and the Little Lost River, which both flow into the same depression and become subterranean, feeding the Snake River Plain Aquifer. Via the
aquifer and numerous
springs, they are tributaries of the
Snake River.