Zlewni
Zlewni is the Polish term for a drainage basin or watershed—the land area from which precipitation drains toward a common outlet such as a river, lake, or coastal zone. The term is used in hydrology, geography, and environmental planning. It is common to refer to multiple basins with the plural form zlewni.
A zlewnia is bounded by topographic divides, typically ridges or high ground that separate it from neighboring
Basins vary widely in size and can encompass small catchments or large river systems. Hydrologists describe
Key processes include precipitation, infiltration, runoff, evapotranspiration, and groundwater exchange. The water balance of a basin
Management of zlewni focuses on integrated watershed planning, flood mitigation, and sustainable use of water resources.
Examples include Poland's major basins drained by the Vistula and Oder rivers, and broader European basins