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A rain shower reaches the forest floor.

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Each drop begins a journey shaped by the land.

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Some water soaks into the soil.

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Some remains at the surface and begins to flow.

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This movement over land is called surface runoff.

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Gravity carries it downhill.

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Small channels feed streams.

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Streams can join rivers, carrying water through the landscape.

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Water can continue toward lakes and oceans.

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This is only one part of the water cycle.

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These scenes are AI illustrations,

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not recorded field footage.

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The explanation follows USGS educational sources.