Importance Of Rivers

What Is A River?

A river is a natural flowing watercourse which usually drains into an ocean, sea, lake or other waterbodies. The major rivers of the world usually have tributaries and distributaries. Tributaries are smaller rivers that join the river along its course and distributaries are smaller rivers that branch out from the major river at the delta before it drains into the ocean, sea or lake. Very small river-like watercourses are referred to as creeks, rills, rivulets or brooks. 

Since the early days of development of the human civilization, rivers have been a blessing, catering to the varying needs of the people of these civilizations. In fact, nearly all of the major civilizations of the world have been nurtured by rivers and were based along the banks of major rivers of the world. For example, the Nile River gave birth to the ancient Egyptian civilization while the Indus River supported the Indus Valley Civilization.


Importance Of Rivers


1. Supply Of Water For Drinking And Domestic Use

The water that we drink come either from surface water or ground water sources. Surface water sources include water derived from rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Water obtained from rivers is tapped by water treatment plants. The water then passes through a series of decontaminating processes till water that is safe for drinking is produced. This water is then supplied to the homes served by the water supply plant.

Similar to the water used for drinking purposes, water from rivers is also treated and supplied to homes based in the watershed of the river. This water is utilized for various purposes like bathing, cooking, cleaning, washing, and other domestic activities and chores needing water. 

For example, the bustling Bangalore city in the Karnataka state of India receives 80% of its domestic water supply from the Cauvery River. The Arkavathy River also supplies water to meet the municipal demands of the city.

Also, nearly 40 million Americans rely on the Colorado River system in the US for their drinking water supply.

2. Supply Of Water For Industries

Most industries need a water supply for their day-to-day functioning, and some are heavily dependent on water for their existence. Thus, many industries grow up along the banks of rivers so that it is easy to obtain the water supply from the river on a continuous basis. Industries such as paper, chemicals, food, primary metals, refined petroleum, etc., are highly reliant on water. 

For example, the Haldia Petrochemicals industry in Haldia, West Bengal, India is based on the banks of the Hooghly River, a River Ganges distributary, deriving its water supply from the river. 

3. Source Of Food

The importance of rivers is also reflected in the fact that rivers are an important source of food. Rivers host a large number of fish species as well a number of invertebrate species. Fishermen, and commercial fishing boats and trawlers catch fish and sell it at the local, regional or national markets or supply the catch for export in global markets. Thus, rivers supply fish, an important dietary protein source that is consumed by people across the world.

4. Transport Of People

For thousands of years, rivers have been used for navigational purposes. The earliest known evidence of such transport is associated with the Indus Valley Civilization at about 3300 BC. Today also, river transport is a cheaper and often a faster source of transport than other means of travel. 

All the major rivers of the world like the Amazon in Brazil, the Nile in Egypt, the Thames in London, the Mississippi in the US, the Ganges in India, and others have a well-developed network of navigation, and ships and boats regularly ply on these rivers, carrying passengers from one place to another across and along the rivers. 

5. Transport Of Goods

The importance of rivers is not limited to just the transport of people but also goods. Transport of raw materials from source to processing factories and movement of packaged goods from processing factories to trade centers can all be carried out by utilizing the riverine route. Rivers and other waterways allow large quantities of goods to be transported from one place to another at a much lower cost than that via road or air transport. This is why factories are usually set up near the major rivers and large industrial towns, and financial centers also develop along the banks of major navigable rivers.

An example of transport of goods via river ways can be observed in the Scandinavian countries and Canada where giant felled trees are often transported from the source to the lumber camps by floating them downstream of a river. This activity helps save effort and cost of transporting such huge logs of wood by other means.

6. Sources Of Livelihood

Rivers support the living of thousands of people who live near this life-giving natural resource. Fishermen depend on the river’s fish resource for their livelihood. Boatmen carry passengers from one destination to the next on their boats in the river as their livelihood. Those associated with travel and tourism earn their income from tourists who visit and access river-based recreational complexes and facilities. 

7. Rivers Support Agriculture

River waters are drawn from the source via canals to irrigate crop fields. The water of the river thus nurtures the food crops that we consume, and that keeps us alive. Thus, again, the life-giving nature of rivers is proved. Thus, the importance of rivers is reflected in this role of rivers.

8. Rivers Are Used In Hydroelectric Power Generation

Fast flowing rivers and those flowing down great heights often become a source of hydroelectric power. The kinetic energy of the river water in such cases is tapped by the construction of dams and hydroelectric power stations where the water of the river is used to run turbines that generate electric power.

For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam on the Sutlej River in India’s Himachal Pradesh has an installed capacity of 1325 MW of electricity. The power generated at the dam is distributed among six neighboring states.

9. Rivers As Boundaries Between Continents, Nations, etc.

A unique aspect of the importance of rivers is that rivers determine the boundaries between nations, states, counties, etc., with land on either side of the river belonging to two different entities. 

An example is the River Danube which in the past formed the border of the Roman Empire and currently serves as the border between Romania and Bulgaria. 

10. Tourism And Recreation

Rivers across the world offer picturesque, natural settings that attract a large number of people to rivers. Angling, boating, river rafting, swimming, etc., are some of the activities that can be enjoyed here. Tourist lodges and resorts often spring up along the banks of the rivers that offer tourists a peaceful stay in natural settings. 


11. Support Plant And Animal Life

The importance of rivers is not limited to just the human civilisation  It is not just humans who benefit from rivers, but rivers supply the life-gifting water that supports the growth and sustenance of a large number of plant and animal species. A large number of waterbirds, amphibians, and reptiles live in and around the river. Rivers allow the growth of dense forests that host wild animals life tigers, leopards, elephants, etc. River banks inside or in the vicinity of forests thus offer tourists the rare opportunity to observe wild species drinking water of the river. Elephants can be seen enjoying a bath in the river while crocodiles can be observed basking in the sun along the banks. 

Thus, in places around the world where native vegetation has been left undisturbed by humans, lush, green forests have existed along the banks of the river instead of human civilizations. For example, the Kabini River in South India supports denied forests and wildlife including India’s national animal, the tiger.