Final answer:
Rivers that start near each other can flow to different locations because their paths are determined by the surrounding topography, including elevation changes and land slopes, and other abiotic features affecting their flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason two rivers that start close together can flow in drastically different directions to distinct locations has to do with the abiotic features and the topography of the land they traverse. Those features, such as the elevation or gradient, channel width, and the geological structure underneath, dictate whether the water will travel quickly or slowly, how much it will erode the land, and eventually which path it will take towards its final destination. For instance, the Danube and the Rhine rivers both originate near southern Germany but flow in opposite directions due to the shaping forces of topography and Earth's geology.
Rivers inherently follow the path of least resistance, typically flowing from higher to lower elevations, and are influenced by local environmental factors such as the slope of the land, the structure of the underlying rock, and human interference like levees and canals. These geographical factors can even change over time, thereby altering the rivers' courses. Furthermore, the origin point of a river, commonly cold with a narrow channel and fast current, is just the beginning of a river's journey. As it moves downstream, the river interacts with various other influences, such as tributaries and terrain changes, which continue to shape its direction and speed.