Fluvial geomorphology

A bit of a chicken-and-the-egg dilemma arises when considering the nature of rivers and land and which shapes the other.  Do rivers and streams simply collect in the low places (and after all, what is ‘low’ but that which is nearer the center of gravity of the earth) or do they carve through the land creating their own path…of least resistance?  Likely, it is a bit of both but nature is so vastly complex that to adequately model such an intricate system with simple formulas (and by ‘simple’ meaning differential equations) is impractical.  We make rough estimates in such instances with convenient models – otherwise one would be tasked with special assignment of keeping track of every grain of sand and dirt to truly and accurately model steam beds.  Garmin ®, TomTom ®, Google ® Maps, Yahoo ® Maps, and other GPS franchises understand this inherent and necessary flaw in the system concerning imprecision in giving directions and designating exact locations of landmarks – even though they do take into account Einstein’s theory of relativity in the delay of the signal from the satellite to the receiver to give more accurate readings.  One can never perfectly model the layout of the earth and especially its river system.  Imagine a large map, say 10ft x 20ft.  With such a gargantuan map one could perhaps put even insignificant landmarks on it if it were a map of one’s city – but not if it were a map of the globe.  Imagine a map as large as a city now.  With such substantial space, one could model the earth fairly accurately, and by ‘fairly’ I mean poorly…and there would still be the inherent distortion of mapping a round object on a flat plane.  One would need a globe the size of Earth to accurately model Earth.  A more ostensible proposition:  can infinity express itself in a finite way?  Sure, there is the ‘sideways eight’ that symbolizes infinity, but this doesn’t express the actual nature of infinity.  Thus, the answer has to be no (unless you are Chuck Norris, who can count to infinity twice).  Yet, when we deal with personal realities rather than impersonal ones, rather than an infinite reality becoming more inexpressible it actually becomes more expressible.  We can know one another truly, but not fully.  You do not have to know your best friend, or parent, or spouse or child completely and fully to know them ‘truly’.