Is a gradient steepest near the mouth?

Yes, the gradient of a river or stream is typically steepest near the mouth. This is because the mouth is where the water flow slows down as it approaches a larger body of water, leading to a greater accumulation of sediment and a decrease in gradient. However, the steepest gradient is usually found upstream, closer to the source, where the elevation changes are more pronounced. Overall, while the mouth may have a noticeable gradient, it is not the steepest compared to upstream areas.