[OSM-newbies] rivers and coastlines

[Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason]

On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:07 AM, Robert Helvie <alimamo at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have been correcting some of the coastline of South Korea (NK border south
> through to Busan provisionally finished) using the Yahoo imagery (yes, I
> know it is old and not always perfect, but it is a darnsite better than what
> was there).
>
> My question is ... What is the common practice for when rivers meet the
> ocean? Here I am talking about the actual way of the river. Not the
> "riverbank" ways. Should the river way run out and butt against the
> coastline with a node? Cross the coastline and run out into the ocean? ...
> Something else??
>
> Additionally, coastline segments often (and correctly in my view) run "up
> river" of wider rivers. How far up river is a judgment call for which I am
> not looking for an answer right now. But I am wondering about the river way
> running out. If the "coastline" runs up river, should the river way end at
> or just past that coast line or should it run out between the banks into
> deeper water?
>
> I couldn't seem to find anything on the wiki.
>
> Just looking for a consenses or perhaps some examples in practice.
> Thanks. If you do have an example, send a link, please.

I draw a line between the two points where the riverbanks meet the
ocean on their far sides. That's my coastline:

Riverbank: http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/way/28101869
Coastline: http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/way/28101860

I think that's a sensible way to do it.