What term refers to a large natural flow of water that crosses an area of land?

The term that refers to a large natural flow of water crossing an area of land is "river." A river is characterized by its flowing water, typically moving from higher to lower elevations and often emptying into larger bodies of water such as lakes, seas, or oceans. Rivers play a crucial role in the ecosystem, supporting diverse wildlife and providing water resources for various human activities like agriculture and transportation.

Lagoons are shallow bodies of water separated from larger bodies of water by a barrier such as a sandbank or coral reef, and they are more static rather than flowing like rivers. Canals are human-made waterways designed for navigation or irrigation, and they do not represent natural flows of water. Inlets are narrow bodies of water between land or within a coastal region, typically leading into larger bodies of water, but they do not characterize the large, flowing characteristics associated with rivers.