Key:water
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Description |
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Specification of a water body. ![]() |
Group: water |
Used on these elements |
Documented values: 24 |
Requires |
Useful combination |
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Status: approved![]() |
Tools for this tag |
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Used to specify a type of inland body of water. It must be tagged in conjunction with natural=water
.
Possible values
These tables are a general overview of each feature. For detailed explanation of each, refer to their specific pages.
Natural features
Tagging | Description | Sample photo |
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water=cenote
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A cenote: a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes groundwater underneath. | ![]() |
water=lagoon
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A lagoon: a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. It's better to specify saltness of water with salt=yes/no .
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water=lake
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A lake: A body of relatively still fresh or salt water. Artificially created water bodies should be tagged with water=pond or water=reservoir .
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water=oxbow
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An oxbow lake: U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. | ![]() |
water=rapids
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A fast-flowing, often turbulent, section of a watercourse such as a river, often containing exposed rocks or boulders. This tag is only for mapping rapids area. Rapids still have to be mapped on river centerline, see waterway=rapids and for more rapids properties whitewater:rapid_grade=* .
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water=river
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The water area of a river. Should contain waterway=river way inside.
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water=stream
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The water covered area of a stream: a naturally-formed watercourse which is narrower than a river | ![]() |
water=stream_pool
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A stream pool; a small and usually deep collection of fresh water, occurring along a stream. Water velocity in the pool is typically much lower than in the stream. Frequently found below a waterfall. May be used as a "swimming hole". | ![]() |
Artificial features
Tagging | Description | Sample photo |
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water=basin
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An area of land artificially graded to hold water. For more details you can use basin=* .
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water=canal
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A body of a canal, a man-made channel for water. Should contain waterway=canal way inside.
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water=ditch
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Water covered area of a waterway=ditch - a linear waterbody serving as a barrier or for draining surrounding land. Should contain waterway=ditch way inside.
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water=drain
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The water covered area of a waterway=drain - an artificial waterway, lined with concrete or similar, used to carry superfluous water. Should contain waterway=drain way inside.
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water=fish_pass
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The body of a fish pass for the fish to pass waterway dams or weirs. Should contain waterway=fish_pass way inside.
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water=harbour
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A harbour is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. | ![]() |
water=lock
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A lock chamber outline: a part of river, canal or lake system, level of which can be manipulated. The mapping of a lock and its parts is described on wiki-site lock=* .
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water=moat
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A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation. | |
water=pond
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A pond: a body of standing water, man-made in most cases, that is usually smaller than a lake. Salt evaporation ponds should be tagged with landuse=salt_pond , open-air swimming pools — with leisure=swimming_pool .
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water=reflecting_pool
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A reflecting pool: a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective surface. | ![]() |
water=reservoir
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A reservoir - An artificial body of water used to store water, usually formed by a dam over a natural water course to retain the water. | ![]() |
water=wastewater
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A clarifier/settling basin of a wastewater treatment plant. The whole land area of the plant should be mapped with man_made=wastewater_plant .
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Obsolete uses
water=intermittent
: consider usingintermittent=yes
insteadwater=tidal
: consider usingtidal=yes
insteadwater=cove
andwater=bay
: the established tagging for bays, coves and inlets isnatural=bay
Possible tagging mistakes
See also
natural=mud
- Area covered with mud: water saturated fine grained soil without significant plant growthman_made=reservoir_covered
- A covered reservoir is a large man-made tank for holding fresh waterlanduse=salt_pond
- A place where sea water is evaporated to extract its saltamenity=lavoir
where use ofwater=yes
is being recommended- Proposed features/Water details