ARiois a great, naturalArroyoof running water.
rivers
are found in everyonecontinentand on almost all types of terrain. Some flow all year round. Others flow seasonally or in wet years. A
Rio
it can be only kilometers long, or it can encompass many of a
continent
.
The longest
rivers
in the world are the Nile in Africa and theAmazonasin South America. Both
rivers
flow through many countries. For centuries, scientists have debated what
Rio
it's longer measure a
Rio
it is difficult because it is difficult to pinpoint its precise beginning and end. Also the length of
rivers
can change like themmeander, Is it like thispent up, about areDeltasgrow andwalk away.
That
Amazonas
It is estimated to be between 6,259 kilometers (3,903 miles) and 6,800 kilometers (4,225 miles) long. The Nile is estimated to be between 5,499 kilometers (3,437 miles) and 6,690 kilometers (4,180 miles) in length. However, there is no debate that the
Amazonas
Air mMineralwater than any other
Rio
on earth. About a fifth of allFreshwaterthat ends up in the oceans
Amazonas
.
rivers
They are important for many reasons. One of their most important tasks is the transport of large amounts of water from land to sea. Over there,seawaterconstantevaporates. The resulting watersteamto formClouds.
Clouds
Transport moisture across the earth and release it againprecipitation. it is
Freshwater
feeds
rivers
and smaller
streams
. The movement of water between land, ocean and air is calledthe water cycle. That
the water cycle
constantsubstitutesupply of the earth
Freshwater
, which is essential for almost all living beings.
Anatomy of a River
not two
rivers
they are exactly the same. However, all
rivers
sure haveCharacteristicstogether and go through similar stages with age.
the beginning of one
Rio
it's called hisfuenteÖheaders. That
fuente
can be a breakdownglacier, like the Gangotri
glacier
, Die
fuente
del Ganges
Rio
in Asia. That
fuente
it could be melted snow, like Andean snow, that feeds
Amazonas
Rio
. A
Rio
's
fuente
could be aLagowith overflow
Arroyo
, such as
See
Itasca, Minnesota, USA
fuente
of Mississippi
Rio
. APrimaveraIt can also be gushing out of the ground
headers
individually
Rio
. That
fuente
the Danube
Rio
is a
Primavera
in black f
Hour
from Germany.
Of his
fuente
, a
Rio
flows downhill like a little one
Arroyo
.
precipitation
jgroundwatercomplement the
Rio
the flow is also fed by others
streams
, called tributaries. For example him
Amazonas
Rio
gets water from me
Mineral
of 1,000 tributaries. together, a
Rio
and its tributaries form ariver system. A
Rio
System
also called acatchment areaor pelvis. A
Rio
The catchment area includes
Rio
, all its tributaries and all
groundwater
concerning
fuentes
In the area.
the end of a
Rio
This isboca. Here the
Rio
flows into another body of water, a larger one
Rio
, a
Lago
, or the sea. Many of the greatest
rivers
learn ins More.
The water flows from a
Rio
It has great power to carve and shape the landscape. Many geographical features, like the Grandcanyonin the US state of Arizona, were modeled by
rivers
over time. This process is called weatheringErosion.
The energy to flow
Rio
The water comes from the power ofheaviness, which pushes the water down. The steeper the slope of a
Rio
, the faster one
Rio
moves and the m
Mineral
energy you have
The movement of the water in a
Rio
means aIndeed. That
Indeed
is usually stronger near the
Rio
's
fuente
. Storms can also increase it
Indeed
. a swift
Indeed
can even move bigboulders. These break, and the parts carried along in the flowing water scratch and get stuck in the
Rio
Below, the bed.
Gradually, a
Rio
tearing stones uTierraalong his bed and carries her downstairs
Arroyo
. That
Rio
carve a narrow V shapeOf.fastjwater fallsare common
rivers
, especially close to his
fuentes
.
Finally the
Rio
flows to lower lands. When the slope of its course flattens out, the
Rio
Cut less deep into your bed. Instead, it begins to squirm back and forth in so-called circular curvessubtleties. This action expands the
Rio
Of
.
At the same time the
Rio
begins to leave behind some of the rocks, sand, and other solid materials he has collectedupstream. This material is calledSediment. once the
Sediment
is deposited, it saysfloating land.
floating land
may contain a large amount of erosiontopsoilsince
until
Arroyo
and from its shores
subtleties
. Because of this, a
Rio
deposits veryfruitful
Tierra
in yourflood plain. A
flood plain
is the area next to that
Rio
affected by floods.
The deepest part of aRiverbedmeans aChannel. That
Channel
usually found in the middle of a
Rio
. Here the
Indeed
is usually strong. In the large
rivers
, the ships are arriving
channels
. engineers canSchatz, or dig, deeper
channels
so M
Mineral
Water can flow through them
Rio
or the
Rio
It can carry larger ships.
Towards the end of his journey, the
Rio
slows down and appears to be movinginactive. It has less energy to cut through the earth and can no longer carry a heavy load
Sediment
. Where is he
Rio
meets the ocean or a
Lago
, You can deposit as much
Sediment
this new country, a
Delta
, it forms.
Not all
rivers
I have
Deltas
. That
Amazonas
has no real
Delta
, for example. The strength oftidej
currents
of the Atlantic Ocean to avoid the accumulation of
Sediment
.
Deltas
almost always has
fruitful
Tierra
. Der Nil
Delta
and the Ganges
Delta
they are, for example, the most important agricultural areas in Egypt and Bangladesh.
rivers through history
rivers
They have always been important to people. InprehistoricAt that time, people settled on the banks of the
rivers
, where they found fish to eat and water to drink, cook and bathe.
Later people found out that the
fruitful
Tierra
through
rivers
it is good to growGrain. The first great in the worldcivilizationsoriginated in the
fruitful
meadows
the Nile in Egypt, the Indus in South Asia, the Tigris and Euphrates in the Middle East, and the Huang (Yellow) in China.
centuries later,
rivers
providedstretchProHandel,exploration, jsettlement. the Volga
Rio
allowed in Eastern EuropeScandinavianand Russian cultures, near the
fuente
von
Rio
, a
Handel
Goods and ideas withlostcultures nearby
boca
the Volga in southern Europe. the Hudson
Rio
in the US state of New York it is named after the English Expl
ears
Henry Hudson, who used the
Rio
to explode
Mineral
that was thethe new world.
As cities and industries developed, the raging waters of
rivers
power supply for operationmachinery. Hundreds of factories operatedmillspowered by the River Thames in England, the Mississippi in the United States and the Ruhr in Germany.
rivers
they are still important today. If you look at a world map, you will see that there are many well-known cities on it
rivers
. Big
Rio
Cities include New York City, New York; Buenos Aires, Argentina; London, England; Cairo, Egypt; Calcutta, India; and Shanghai, China. Actually,
rivers
They are usually the oldest parts of the city. Paris, France, for example, was named after himiron agepeople known as thefrom Pariswho lived on the islands and banks of the Seine
Rio
that crosses the city.
rivers
continue to take care of the transport
stretch
, drinking water and irrigationfarmlandand energy for households and industry.
rivers of Europe
The longest
Rio
in Europe it is the Volga. It flows approximately 3,685 kilometers (2,290 miles) through Russia and empties into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has been used for transportation for centuriesmaderafrom the north of f
Orestes
,Kornsince
farms
while his
Of
and finished goods. That
Rio
He is also known for hisDisturb, a type of large fish whose roe is used to make a famous oneDelicacy-Russiancaviar.
The River Thames in England is one of the most historic in Europe.
rivers
. On its banks stands the City of London, abusy urban areathe picture
Mineral
of a thousand years By the year 100 AD, London had already become a major Roman city.
settlement
jTrading posts. Because of its location in the
Rio
and near the coast London became the capital of England and
Handel
Center.
busiest in Europe
Rio
it is the Rhine, which stretches from the Alps in Switzerland through Germany and the Netherlands and empties into the North Sea. It flows through many industries and
Agriculture
Regions and LeadsA child's claw loadedcon
Farm yard
Products,Money,Eisen
Mineral
and a variety of finished goods.
asian rivers
The longest and most important in Asia
Rio
It's the Yangtze River in China. It flows from the Dangla Mountains between Tibet and the Chinese province of Qinghai. 6,300 kilometers later it flows into the East China Sea. The Yangtze River is a highway for
Handel
for the most populous country in the world.
The Yangtze River is also an agricultural area
Rio
. They are
Of
It is an important rice growing region and its water is used forwaterFields. Many Chinese live in the
Rio
inmocking housesÖsailing boatscalledscrap metal.
the Yangtze
Rio
It is the home of the most powerful in the worldHydropowerplant thatThree Gorges Dam. Eventually, the plant will be able to consistently produce 22,500 megawatts of electricity. China's rural population will have access to affordable serviceselectricityfor private households, companies, schools and hospitals. create the
three throats
Damm
was one of the biggestengineering
Services
in the history. engineers
pent up
Yangtze River, creating a 39.3 cubic kilometer (31.9
Million
acre-pie)Reservoir, or artificial
Lago
.
The Ganges is the largest.
Rio
in asian indiaSubcontinent. is sacred to him
millions
by supporters ofHindu-Religion. For thousands of years
Hindus
have worshiped
Rio
as goddess, Ganga Ma (Mother Ganges).
Hindus
Believe in him
Rio
Water purifies the soul and heals the body.
millions
of people use the Ganges daily for bathing, drinking and for industry.
The historical Tigris and Euphrates
Rio
System
flows from Turkey through Syria and Iraq and into the
lost
Golf. That
rivers
They are in an area calledFertile Crescent. The region between the two
rivers
, known asMesopotamia, is the so-called “cradle of
civilization
.” The earliest evidence of
civilization
jAgriculture—
Agriculture
jdomesticationof animals - appears in the
Fruitful
Growing
.
Rivers of North America
In North America,
rivers
served as highways for the nativesStammand later for European expansion
Era
.
ex. English
Era
began touring the St. Lawrence and others
rivers
of Canada in the 16th century. They found oneabundanceof fish and other wild animals and met Indians
Stamm
the beaver hunted. the exp
Era
took beaverskinsback to Europe, where fashionable hats were made from it. Soon hunter expl
aired
and traveled networks of
rivers
in North America in search of the beaver
skins
. The establishment of
Trading posts
through
rivers
later it opened the way for permanent European settlers.
Saint Lawrence
Rio
is still importantwaterway. That
Rio
, which empties into the Atlantic, is connected to thebig lakesfor himSan Lorenzo Seaway-a row ofchannels,Castles,
dams
, j
Lagos
. That
San Lorenzo Seaway
allows transoceanic ships to enter the interior of the
continent
.
The Mississippi is the boss
Rio
of North America It flows approximately 3,766 kilometers (2,340 miles) through the heart of the United States, from its
fuente
in Minnesota to his
Delta
in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.
Spanish and French exp.
Era
first traveled up the Mississippi in the 1500s and 1600s. In 1803 the United States bought most of Mississippi
Rio
Of
of France as part ofLouisiana Kauf. After that, the Mississippi was crossed extensively
merchants
and settlers on rafts, boats, etc
A child's claw
.
With the introduction of thesteamship, a new industrial age began on the Mississippi.Rad palettestransported
Handel
Were up and down the
Rio
. Work boats soon followedcruise shipsand anotherluxuriouspassenger boats. writerMark Twainwho was once a
steamship
Pilot im
Rio
He describes this time in his bookLife on the Mississippi.
Over time, the Mississippi gained prominence as a
Handel
Ruta
. Today it takesinvoiceBoot you
A child's claw
in rows that can span m
Mineral
than a kilometer in large quantitiesPetroleum,
Money
, and other bulky goods are transported in the
Rio
from massive
A child's claw
pushed by mightytractor.
Colorado of North America
Rio
is famous for the formation of the great
canyon
in Arizona too
millions
of years that
Rio
has carved its way through layers of rock to carve them
canyon
. long ago that
Rio
flowed over a flat plain. Then the earth's crust began to rise, lifting the land. That
Rio
started cutting the earth. The great
canyon
It is now about 1.5 kilometers deep at its deepest point and 29 kilometers wide at its widest point.
Rivers of South America
The strength of
Amazonas
Rio
in South Americain yearsevery body else
rivers
on the planet. The amount of water flowing through
Amazonas
It is greater than the amount carried by the Mississippi, Yangtze and Nile combined.
That
Amazonas
starts like ice cream
Arroyo
high in the Andes of Peru. It flows through Brazil and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. That
Amazonas
and its tributaries drain a basin covering an area of three quartersadjacentUSA.
The first Europeans to see
Amazonas
They were Spanish
Era
who toured it in the 16th century. They encountered a group of natives who appeared to be women, so the story goes. the exp
Era
called people
Amazonas
, after female warriors described in GreekMythology. Name
Amazonas
handed over later
Rio
.
For much of its course, the
Amazonas
flows through the largest in the worldtropicalRegen f
Hour
. The region has a rich and unusual fauna, including carnivorous fishPiranhas; named giant fisharapaima, which can weigh m
Mineral
125 kilograms (275 pounds); and called giant snakesHe loved it.
Some
Amazonas
Stamm
Stay independent from western culture. ThatKammFor example, people live on anomadiclife based on
Amazonas
and its tributaries in the rain f
Hour
from Ecuador Due to the request of
madera
des Regens n
Hour
, the land ofindigenouspeople of
Amazonas
shrinking Today there are less than 100
Kamm
live in the rain m
Hour
.
rivers
power many South American communities. The Itaipu
Damm
overlooks the Paraná
Rio
on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Construction of
Damm
needs theWorkedby thousands of workers and costs m
Mineral
of $12 billion. That
Damm
The power plant can regularly produce around 12,600 megawatts
electricity
. The huge
Reservoir
formed by the
Damm
provides drinking water and irrigation.
rivers of Africa
The two largest in Africa
rivers
They are the Nile and the Congo.
Awealthyof the Nile, theI need Blanco, flows off tiny
streams
through the mountains of Burundi
See
Victoria, the largest in Africa
Lago
. The other
wealthy
, DieBlue Nile, reboots
See
Tana, Ethiopia. The two meet in Khartoum, Sudan. The Nile then flows through the Sahara in Sudan and Egypt and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Because the area where the tributaries meet is near the two
fuentes
of the Nile the area is called theEverything Nile, although geographically it is further south. ThatThe Lower Niletouring egypt
One of the first
civilizations
in the developed world throughout
The Lower Nile
. ancient egyptian
civilization
It was formed about 5,000 years ago. It was directly related to the Nile and itsYearlyFlood. Every year the
Rio
overflowing, spreading profusely
Sediment
in its breadth
flood plain
. That made the country extreme
fruitful
. Egyptian
farmers
could growplentiful
Grain
. In fact, the ancient Egyptians called their countryKemet, meaning "Black Earth", due to the rich and black
Tierra
deposited by the
Rio
.
The Egyptians also used the Nile as an important means of transport.
Ruta
both in the Mediterranean and in the interior of Africa. Thatgift, or doubleCoronaworn by Egyptiansmonarchs, combined symbolism of the two
Everything Nile
j
The Lower Nile
. A big white one
Corona
in the shape of a bowl represented the countries of
Everything Nile
. it is
Corona
was paired with a spiky red
Corona
that had a curly wireoutgoingfrom the front. The color red symbolizes red.
Floors
from Lower Egypt, while the curly wire represented abee. While dressing
gift
, an Egyptian ruler took control of the entire Nile.
The Nile provided the enterprising Egyptians with material to form a mighty one
civilization
. SincePapyrus, a tall reed that grew in the
Rio
The Egyptians made a type of paper, as well as rope, cloth, and baskets. The Egyptians also built great cities, temples and monuments around the world.
Rio
, including graves for their
monarchs
, Öpharaohs. Many of these ancient monuments are still standing.
the Congo
Rio
flows through the center of Africa, through a hugeequatorialRegen f
Hour
, In front
Mineral
Estuary in the Atlantic Ocean. Congo is only second
Amazonas
in terms of water flow. it is the deepest
Rio
in the world, with measured depths of m
Mineral
than 230 meters (750 feet). Enormously
City areas
, including the capitals of Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, lie on the banks of the river
Rio
.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the
Rio
It is the main route for transporting goods such as cotton, coffee and sugar. passing ships
Rio
SectionwhenToo largefreighter.
That
Rio
also delivers a
abundance
of fish to Central Africa. Fishermen use baskets and nets hung from tall poles over waterfalls
fast
for fishing. They also use m
Mineral
traditional networks run from onsh
Mineral
or in boats.
australian rivers
Much of Australia isdry, Then what
rivers
still pull through. Australian manager
rivers
They are the Murray and the Darling, both in the southeastern part of the
continent
. The Murray runs approximately 2,590 kilometers (1,610 miles) from the Snowy Mountains to aLagoonin the Indian Ocean. Near the town of Wentworth, the Murray joins the Darling, a distance of 2,739 kilometers (1,702 miles).
Rio
flows from the highlands of the east coast.
Indigenous
The Australians placed great value on the Murray
Rio
. the Murray
Of
had the highest population density in the
continent
In front
Mineral
the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century.
Mid 19th century Europeans
farmers
had settled in both
rivers
and some of its tributaries. Most Australians
farmers
They raise sheep and cows.
river boats
They began plowing through the waters, and cities grew on the banks.
much of australia
farmland
still lies in the Murray-Darling Basin, where
Rio
agua
water
something 1.2
Million
Hectares(3
Million
hectares). The region is the country's main supplier of agricultural products.Export– Wool, Beef, Wheat and Oranges.
contaminated rivers
People have relied on it for centuries
rivers
for many things.
rivers
have provided
waterways
B. for shipping, urban construction sites and
fruitful
country for
Agriculture
. Similarextensiveuse of
rivers
has contributed to hiscontamination.
Rio
contamination
came straight from castinggarbagejsewage, availableGiftmüllfactory and agricultureEscapecontainsfertilizerjpesticides.
In the 1960s, many of the
rivers
They were so polluted that fish and other wild animals could no longer survive in them. Its waters became unsafe for drinking, swimming, and other uses. One of the most famous examples of a contaminated
Rio
it was the Cuyahoga. The Cuyahoga is a busy one
Rio
in the US state of Ohio
See
series It is one of the most important highways for goods and services in theMiddle WestAl
Big
Lagos
. 1969 the oily
contamination
On the Cuyahoga it was so great that the
Rio
actually caught fire, something I had done m
Mineral
more than a dozen times in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Since the 1969 fire, stricter laws have helped clean up
rivers
. have the lawsrestrictedthe substances that factories can dispose of
rivers
, limited the amount of farming
Escape
, toxic prohibited
pesticides
such asDDT, and the required treatment of
sewage
.
Although the situation has improved in some parts of the world, serious problems remain. The citrum
Rio
In Indonesia, for example, it is often cited as the most polluted
Rio
in the world.TextileFactories near the Citarum Landfill
Giftmüll
inside
Rio
. That
garbage
floating above that
Rio
it is so thick that the water is invisible.
Even after communities have limited themselves
Rio
contamination
, toxic chemicals may remain. Many contaminants take years to dissolve. Pollutants also accumulate
Rio
wild life. Toxic chemicals can stickstarted, which are eaten by insects or fish, which are then eaten by larger fish or humans. At every stage of
Rio
'sfood webthe amount of the toxic chemical increases.
There is also a serious problem in parts of North America and Europeacid rain.
acid rain
develops whenemissionsfrom factories and vehicles mix with moisture in the air. The resulting acid can be toxic to many living things.
acid rain
It falls like rain and snow. accumulates
glacier
,
streams
, j
Lagos
, contaminate water and kill wildlife.
Umschl
iron mentalists
, governments and communities are trying to understand and solve these
contamination
problems. Provide safe drinking water and habitats for fish and other wildlife to thrive,
rivers
must be kept clean.
dams
A
Damm
It is a barrier that stops or diverts the flow of water along a
Rio
. people have built
dams
For thousands of years.
dams
They are built for many purposes. Some
dams
prevent flooding or allow people to develop or "reclaim" land beforehand.submergedPro
Rio
. Others
dams
are used to change a
Rio
of course in favor ofdevelopmentÖ
Agriculture
. Others supply water to rural or nearby communities.
City areas
. Lots
dams
serve to provide
electricity
to the local communities.
1882 the world's first
Hydropower
Plant was built in the Fox
Rio
in the American city of Appleton, Wisconsin. Since then, thousands of hydroelectric power plants have been built
rivers
worldwide. These plants use the energy of flowing water to produce
electricity
. About 7 percent of all energy in the United States and 19 percent of all energy worldwide comes from hydroelectric power plants. China is the world's largest producer of
Hydropower
.
Hydropower
is renewable because the water is always available
filled up
over
precipitation
. Why hydroelectric power stations don't burnfossil fuels, they do not emit
contamination
Ögreenhouse gases. However,
Hydropower
has some negative effects on the environment
Iron
.
dams
and hydroelectric power plants change the flow andTemperaturevon
rivers
. These changes in theecosystemmay harm fish and other wildlife living in or near the water
Rio
. And that although hydroelectric power plants do not release
greenhouse gases
,rotten Vegetationcaught in
dams
'
reservoirs
can make them.expiredMaterial vegetable emitesMoneyDioxide, an important one
greenhouse gases
, to the atmosphere.
dams
They also affect the people who live nearby
rivers
. for example M
Mineral
the 1.3
Million
People had to leave their homes to make way for China
three throats
Damm
forks
Reservoir
.human rightsOrganizations confirm that many of these people did not receive thiscompensationThey were promised in exchange for their expulsion.
Next to,
dams
may affect fish populations and fertility
meadows
. The fish may not be able toemigrateand spawn.
farmers
what depended
fruitful
the tide can be cut off by the
Rio
Pro
Damm
. This can harm fishermen's livelihoods and
farmers
who live everywhere
Rio
, as much asconsumerthey have to pay higher prices for food.
dams
with very big
reservoirs
can also triggerearthquake.
earthquake
happens when two or more
Mineral
vontectonic platesthat make up the earth's crust slide against each other. The weight of the water in the
reservoirs
can cause existing cracks orMistaketo slide onto these disks and create a
earthquake
.
Flussmanagement
Rio
administration
is the process of balancing the needs of manyaffected parties, the communities that depend on it
rivers
.
rivers
provide natural habitats for fish, birds and other wildlife. They also offer recreational areas and sports facilities such as fishing and kayaking.
The industry also depends on it
rivers
.
rivers
Transport of goods and people through
Continent
. They provide affordable energy for
millions
of houses and shops.
farmers
jAgricultureare often based on
rivers
to transport.
rivers
Also water supply for irrigation.
Rio
Managers must consider everyone's needs
Indeed
and future
affected parties
.
done quickly
Flip-Flop-Flow
The Amazon used to flow in the opposite direction. Today the river flows from the mountains of Peru in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. But millions of years ago it actually flowed from east to west and emptied into the Pacific Ocean. The flow was reversed when the Andes began to rise at the end of the Cretaceous period (about 65 million years ago).
done quickly
Ganges that kills germs
Hindus have always believed that the waters of the Ganges have purifying powers. Although millions of people regularly bathe in the river, it does not usually spread cholera, typhoid or other waterborne diseases. Scientists have discovered that unique bactericidal bacteriophage viruses kill germs in Ganges waters.
In addition, the Ganges contains up to 25 times more dissolved oxygen than any other river in the world. Oxygen helps prevent the putrefaction (rotting) of organic matter in the river. Scientists don't know why the river contains so much oxygen.
done quickly
mythical rivers
The ancient Greeks believed that five rivers surrounded Hades, the underworld. These rivers are Styx (hatred), Phlegethon (fire), Acheron (sadness), Cocytus (lament or grief), and Lethe (forgetfulness). The Greeks believed that dead souls had to cross the river Acheron, an arm of the Styx, to get to the underworld. They crossed in a ferry piloted by Charon, the ferryman from Hades.
Audio-Video
FAQs
Why are rivers important for society? ›
Rivers provide important benefits—called ecosystem services—that impact our day-to-day lives. They provide drinking water, irrigation, transportation, and more. They also provide habitat for important fish species.
What are the 4 characteristics of a river? ›ALLUVIAL RIVERS
characteristics, discharge, sediment transport, and the bed material.
A river is a large, natural stream of flowing water. Rivers are found on every continent and on nearly every kind of land. Some flow all year round. Others flow seasonally or during wet years.
Why is understanding rivers important? ›Importance of Rivers
They carry water, organisms and important gases and nutrients to many areas. They also help drain rainwater and provide habitats for many species of plants and animals. As they make their way to the sea, rivers help shape the features of the Earth.
The benefits societies derive from rivers: rivers can provide a number of benefits to society, from supporting livelihoods, nurturing social relations and well-being, and contributing to food-, energy-, and water-security.
How do rivers impact our lives? ›Rivers provide water for irrigation, domestic supply, power generation and industry as well as a range of other ecosystem services and intrinsic and biodiversity values.
What are 5 facts about rivers? ›- Water flows from rivers to the ocean and sea. ...
- Lots of animals live in rivers. ...
- Rivers can flood if there is a lot of rainfall. ...
- The start of a river is called the source. ...
- The end of a river is called a mouth. ...
- The longest river in the world is the River Nile.
A river system is a network of a source, tributaries, flood plains, and wetlands in relation to the main river. These components make up the river's watershed.
Why are rivers important in geography? ›Rivers carry water and nutrients to areas all around the earth. They play a very important part in the water cycle, acting as drainage channels for surface water. Rivers drain nearly 75% of the earth's land surface. Rivers provide excellent habitat and food for many of the earth's organisms.
What are the 4 types of rivers? ›The rivers of India can be classified into four groups viz., Himalayan rivers, Deccan rivers, Coastal rivers, and Rivers of the inland drainage basin. The Himalayan Rivers are formed by melting snow and glaciers and therefore, continuously flow throughout the year.
What is importance of river in geography? ›
Rivers carry water and nutrients to areas all around the earth. ... Habitats. Rivers provide excellent habitat and food for many of the earth's organisms. ... Transport. Rivers provide travel routes for exploration, commerce and recreation.
Do rivers have a significant impact on the environment and society? ›Rivers are our main source of clean drinking water, and their economic value, environmental value, and even aesthetic or spiritual values touch each and every American.
How rivers play an important role in a country's history? ›Rivers are very important to a country's economy because they are a valuable natural resource. In addition to providing water for irrigation operations, they also ensure soil fertility by carrying mineral-rich silt. They are also used to generate hydroelectricity and are useful for navigation and transportation.
What do rivers teach us answer? ›A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in the form of a heavy rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This teaches us to be progressive in life, and keep the fighting spirit alive.
What is a river culture? ›A river valley civilization is an agricultural nation or civilization situated beside and drawing sustenance from a river.
What are 3 benefits of rivers? ›For irrigation purposes, navigation, and Hydropower generation it is considered important. Tourism and recreation play a fundamental role in the economic benefit of lakes and rivers.
How do people depend on rivers? ›Rivers support people and economies
Globally, an estimated 2 billion people rely directly on rivers for their drinking water and 500 million people (approximately one in 14 people on Earth) live on deltas that are sustained by sediment from rivers, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Rivers and lakes are of a great value to human beings. They help to develop hydel power, provide water for irrigation, drinking, industries and they help to develop fisheries. They will enhance natural beauty and help in the development of tourism and provide recreation.
What are the benefits of living by a river? ›- Better Sleep. ...
- Mental Health. ...
- Fresh Air. ...
- Lower your Blood Pressure. ...
- Access to Nature's Healthy Meat. ...
- Creative Inspiration.
Slides about different features of a river with explanations for some. Source; waterfall; oxbow; lake, stream; spring; channel; meander.
What are 5 benefits of a river? ›
- They are the sources of freshwater which is essential for the survival of all living beings.
- Water bodies are used for navigation purposes. ...
- The flowing water is used for the generation of electricity.
- Hydro power is considered to be cheap and clean energy source.
The larger, or parent, river is called the mainstem. The point where a tributary meets the mainstem is called the confluence. Tributaries, also called affluents, do not flow directly into the ocean.
What are branches of river called? ›A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. Distributaries are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation.
What is the main source of a river? ›All rivers have a starting point where water begins its flow. This source is called a headwater. The headwater can come from rainfall or snowmelt in mountains, but it can also bubble up from groundwater or form at the edge of a lake or large pond.
What are the 4 dimensions of rivers? ›longitudinal – linear connectivity. lateral – floodplain connectivity. vertical – hyporheic (below the stream bed) temporal (time) – many scales; seasonal, multiyear, generational.
What are 8 major river systems? ›The major Himalayan rivers are the Indus river, Ganga river, Yamuna, and the Brahmaputra. The major Peninsular rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery.
How do rivers relate to geography? ›Rivers are a unique feature in the geography of the earth. They provide dry inland areas with much needed fresh water and allow climates of every type to support life. Agriculture is supported by rivers and humans benefit from their existence in many ways.
Why are rivers important resources? ›They act as drainage channels for surface water; provide habitat, nourishment and means of transport to countless organisms; offer travel routes for exploration, commerce and recreation; leave valuable deposits of sediments; provide the power to produce much of the electrical energy we use; and create the majestic ...
What are the five most important rivers? ›The five major rivers of India are Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Godavari and Brahmaputra.
What is the end of a river called? ›Answer and Explanation: The end of a river, the place where the river empties into another body of water, is known as the mouth of the river. However, when two rivers combine, we sometimes call this meeting the point the confluence or conflux.
What are the important features of a river? ›
Rivers flow downhill toward their mouth. The mouth of the river is where the river enters a lake or ocean. Rivers have many small streams (tributaries) which join together to form a main channel. V-shaped valleys form in the upper course of a river where there is a lot of downwards erosion.
Why are rivers considered to be the lifeline of human civilization? ›Water from the rivers is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities. The river banks have attracted settlers from ancient times. These settlements have also become big cities, that is why rivers are considered the lifelines of human civilization.
How did rivers help civilizations to grow? ›Rivers were attractive locations for the first civilizations because they provided a steady supply of drinking water and game, made the land fertile for growing crops, and allowed for easy transportation.
How does rivers help the people living in village? ›Rivers are very useful to the villagers. They collect water from rivers in pots for their day to day usage. They also catch some fish from the rivers for food and sell some of them in market to get money.
Which are the three functions of a river answer? ›5.1 THE THREE FUNCTIONS OF A RIVER
These are known as the three functions of a river. They are (i) erosion (ii) transportation and (iii) deposition.
Life is like a river, it is always flowing, it can flow slowly or it can flow quickly, it can change courses but nothing can stop the river from flowing. The same happens with life, there are no external circumstances that can stop it from flowing.
What is the symbolism of rivers? ›The river itself is a path, which lends itself quite well to be a powerful illustration of a journey a hero must take. As the river flows along — so does our narrative. The river can not only symbolize a path that one must take but can also highlight the descent into or out of something.
Why are rivers important for the economy? ›Rivers are essential for the country's economy because they are helpful for transportation and navigation, and they also produce hydroelectricity.
How does river benefits are? ›They are the sources of freshwater which is essential for the survival of all living beings. Water bodies are used for navigation purposes. They act like a connecting point to different places. The flowing water is used for the generation of electricity.
What are the five important rivers? ›Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson.
What is special about rivers? ›
Rivers only hold a small amount of the Earth's water, but they have always been vital to human life, carrying freshwater to people and animals all over the world. And they're super-powerful forces of nature, too – carving out deep valleys and gorges, and shaping the land as they flow to the ocean!
What is the five benefits of river? ›Rivers and wetlands in the United States provide myriad benefits including, climate regulation, clean drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and economic, cultural, and scientific opportunities.
Why are rivers considered most important resources in the world? ›Rivers provide many critical goods and services, including drinking water, power generation, nutrient recycling, organic matter retention, habitat for many unique plants and animals and recreational activities.
How do rivers impact people economically? ›Traditionally, rivers have been valued primarily as water sources to drive the economic engines of irrigation and hydropower. However, rivers provide a broader set of services that deliver immense benefits to people, economies and nature, which include, but exceed, the value of the water they carry.