Legal Definitions - batture

Batture refers to the accumulation of soil, sand, stone, or other natural materials that forms underwater, typically along the banks or in the bed of a river, lake, or other body of water. This submerged landform may or may not eventually rise above the water's surface.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of batture:

• Imagine a powerful river that carries a significant amount of sediment downstream. Over many years, this sediment settles and builds up on the riverbed near a sharp bend, forming a gradually rising mound that remains entirely submerged beneath the water's surface. This underwater accumulation of soil and sand, not yet visible as dry land, is considered batture.

• Consider a coastal area where ocean currents consistently deposit sand just offshore. This process creates a shallow, submerged sandbar that is typically covered by water, even at normal low tide. While it might occasionally become partially exposed during exceptionally low tides or severe weather, its primary characteristic is being an underwater formation. This submerged sandbar exemplifies batture.

• In a large freshwater lake, a tributary stream regularly introduces fine silt and organic matter. Over several decades, this material settles near the mouth of the tributary, creating a gradually elevated area of the lakebed that is significantly shallower than the surrounding bottom but still remains completely underwater. This underwater buildup of silt and organic material is a form of batture.