Why are most springs in valleys or low places?

Question

Why are most springs in valleys or low places?

Answer 1

Springs are subterranean water that comes to the surface as it flows downhill.  You will have subterranean water on the tops of hills but it is going downhill, underground.  It won't come to the surface until it has had time to flow downhill a little.

Answer 2

A spring is a place on the earth's surface where groundwater emerges naturally. The water source of most springs is rainfall that seeps into the ground uphill from the spring outlet. Spring water moves downhill through soil or cracks in rock until it is forced out of the ground by natural pressure.

There is also an artesian spring.  Water issuing from an artesian spring rises to a higher elevation than the top of the confined aquifer from which it issues. When water issues from the ground it may form into a pool or flow downhill, in surface streams. Sometimes a spring is termed a seep.

As you can see from the above text, springs form in lower areas either due to gravity causing the water to run downhill or the pressure in the aquifer causing the springs to flow out of a hillside at a lower level.  Both of these cases occur in valleys or low places

To see a diagram of an artesian spring formation, go to:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...

Click on "See full-size image" to get a larger image.

Answer 3

Gravity causes water to seek the lowest point in it's course.This is down hill.

Answer 4

Because water doesn't run up hill, and you are more likely to hit a spring or water table on lower terrain.  They don't exist at higher elevations.