Rain and melting snow primarily drain into bodies of water through which feature?

A watershed is a critical feature in the drainage of rain and melting snow into bodies of water. It encompasses the land area that directs water flow into a specific water body, such as a river, lake, or stream. When precipitation occurs, water travels over the land surface or through the soil, eventually collecting in these water bodies. The watershed collects all the surface water and any runoff, ensuring that the water cycle continues efficiently.

In contrast, a waterspout refers to a weather phenomenon that forms over bodies of water, which is not related to the drainage process. A channel is simply a pathway through which water flows, typically alongside rivers or streams, but it does not encompass the entire area that drains into a particular body of water. Lakes are stationary bodies of water and do not serve as mechanisms for the drainage of surface runoff. Thus, a watershed is the most accurate feature that describes the area contributing to the drainage of rain and snowmelt into larger water bodies.