Chapter 2
Geography of Transboundary River
Basins
2.1 Transboundary River Basins Defined
Following commonly accepted geographical definitions (Wolf et al. 1999) a “river
basin” is understood in the context of this study as an area which contributes to a
first order stream.
1 First order streams are those that communicate directly with the
final recipient of water (oceans, closed inland lakes or lakes). As a result, subsidiary
basins are not accounted for as independent hydrological units however sizable they
may be (e.g. the entire Sava catchment forms part of the Danube basin).
A river basin is considered “transboundary” (“international”, “shared”, etc.) when
it intersects or demarcates political boundaries. Such intersection or demarcation
can take several forms. In fact, the relevant literature distinguishes no less than 14
geographical configurations just for rivers shared by two countries (Dinar 2008).
Importantly, a river basin qualifies as transboundary not only where a particular
stream effectively flows through or creates state borders, but also where such political
borders intersect parts of the catchment area that discharges water into the basin
solely through downhill drain of rain or snow melt or through the subsoil. Such
broad construction of a “transboundary” or “international” river basin is supported by
relevant international legal instruments, including the UN Watercourses Convention,
2
1 The terms “catchment”, “drainage area” “river” and “watercourse” will be used interchangeably
with “river basin” throughout this study.
2 “Watercourse means a system of surface waters and groundwaters constituting by virtue of their
physical relationship a unitary whole and normally flowing into a common terminus”. Article 2.a.,
Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, New York, 21 May
1997.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
G. Baranyai, European Water Law and Hydropolitics, Water Governance - Concepts,
Methods, and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22541-4_2
9
Geography of Transboundary River
Basins
2.1 Transboundary River Basins Defined
Following commonly accepted geographical definitions (Wolf et al. 1999) a “river
basin” is understood in the context of this study as an area which contributes to a
first order stream.
1 First order streams are those that communicate directly with the
final recipient of water (oceans, closed inland lakes or lakes). As a result, subsidiary
basins are not accounted for as independent hydrological units however sizable they
may be (e.g. the entire Sava catchment forms part of the Danube basin).
A river basin is considered “transboundary” (“international”, “shared”, etc.) when
it intersects or demarcates political boundaries. Such intersection or demarcation
can take several forms. In fact, the relevant literature distinguishes no less than 14
geographical configurations just for rivers shared by two countries (Dinar 2008).
Importantly, a river basin qualifies as transboundary not only where a particular
stream effectively flows through or creates state borders, but also where such political
borders intersect parts of the catchment area that discharges water into the basin
solely through downhill drain of rain or snow melt or through the subsoil. Such
broad construction of a “transboundary” or “international” river basin is supported by
relevant international legal instruments, including the UN Watercourses Convention,
2
1 The terms “catchment”, “drainage area” “river” and “watercourse” will be used interchangeably
with “river basin” throughout this study.
2 “Watercourse means a system of surface waters and groundwaters constituting by virtue of their
physical relationship a unitary whole and normally flowing into a common terminus”. Article 2.a.,
Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, New York, 21 May
1997.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
G. Baranyai, European Water Law and Hydropolitics, Water Governance - Concepts,
Methods, and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22541-4_2
9