Final answer:
Drainage networks range from those with few tributaries in first order drainage basins to networks with numerous tributaries in large catchments like the Mississippi River basin, influenced by environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the study of drainage networks and drainage basins, a key concept in physical geography and environmental science. The drainage network with the fewest number of tributaries would typically be found in a first order drainage basin, which is a small area that drains directly into a larger body of water without any tributary network. On the other hand, a drainage network with an intermediate number of tributaries might represent a system with moderate variability, and could be part of a region like the Cosumnes River, which has a mix of direct runoff and tributary inflows. The drainage network with the largest number of tributaries would usually be found in large catchment areas like the Mississippi River basin, which encompasses a significant portion of a continent and includes numerous smaller basins such as those of the Ohio and Missouri Rivers. The Mississippi River basin's large network of tributaries contributes to the overall discharge of the river, which is influenced by factors such as precipitation patterns, topography, and groundwater seepage.