In the study of topography, a Water Divide, also known as Height of Land is a high ridge of mountains which traverses a region of land and separates neighboring watersheds (also called drainage basins) apart from each other. Within a mountainous region, the divide normally lies along the topographical high ridges of the mountains, either in the form of a single range of mountains or throughout the ridges of multiple ranges of mountains. These ranges which separate watersheds are commonly known as Dividing Ranges.

Within a relatively flat region, especially where the ground is marshy, the divide may be harder to discern. Still, that divide, however low in elevation it is, will separate the water flow into two or more adjacent drainage basins.

For instance, from the Hill of Three Waters (47.47223, -92.96395) near Hibbing Minnesota, water is distributed to three separate water basins, and this despite the elevation being only 1,769 feet.

However, also found in the study of topography are areas known as an endorheic basin. This topographical feature is also referred to by some as a terminal lake and/or a closed drainage basin. In the study of geography, the endorheic basin is referred to as a sink.

In the North American continent, there are ten major locations where the Height of Land causes Water Divides and Endorheic Basins. These ten topographical features are five in number for Water Divides and five in number for Endorheic Basins. Furthermore, along the five Water Divides, there are five separate Triple Divide locations, one of which I have recently identified, located and named, Kanatuahkuiau Triple Divide (52.8774350, -63.6198750, 2415 feet)

A height of land divide, also known as a Drainage Divide, is a ridge line at the highest elevation through a region of land, and more commonly called a Water Divide along its highlands traverse. The locality of the height of land, will thus serve as a divide within a continental area which separates one or more watershed areas.

On mountainous terrain, a water divide lies along a topographical ridge which many be in the form of one or more mountain ranges (and or hills) and such elevated terrain is known as a dividing range. On flat terrain, the water divide line may prover more difficult to determine, but will always have some form of high point from which the direction of water flow is divided into separate directions.

An Endorheic Basin, also known as a water basin is a low-lying area of land, depression, or container where water collects and/or drains to its lowest elevation. This type of water basin is separated from all adjacent drainage basins by an encompassing perimeter, forming a drainage divide, which is made up by a succession of elevated features, such as mountains, ridges and/or other areas with a formable height of land.

In this study, the water basin is considered to be a closed drainage system, one in which all water entering the basin remains in the basin. All water entering converges toward the lowest area of the interior of the basin, known in geology as a sink and which results in the formation of a permanent lake, a dry lake, or a location where surface water seeps underground to refill aquifers.

Example: Mono Lake, California