Sheet Discussing the Confluence of Rivers from Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci

(Original Caption) : Sheet 18B: On the left page, Leonardo explores the ramifications of the confluence of rivers of various sizes. He includes practical suggestions to avoid flooding and erosion problems. On the right page, he says that even a uniformly straight river will wind in a short time. He also discusses the motion and slant of rivers. 18v SYNOPSIS: The subject of this page is the meeting of two rivers, one large and the other smaller. Leonardo makes some intricate visual analyses of the deposits and wave patterns that result from their confluence. He mentions Mensola and the Arno, and from this we can infer that he recorded his thoughts while he was actively working on a grand canalization project. His first conclusion concerns mud and sand: "When a lesser river flows into a greater river, the lesser river dams up its own waters, which, as they slow down, receive large quan (Photo by Seth Joel/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)