The importance of rivers in modern times and in the past show us how dependent we are on a water supply. People use water for drinking, transportation, aquatic food sources and the irrigation of crops. The power of rivers is now used to generate electricity as well.
The Importance of Rivers
When asked to name the largest rivers of the world, many people may say the Amazon River, Nile River or even the Mississippi River. The Amazon River is the largest river in the world as measured by how much water passes through each second. However, the Nile River is the longest river in the world.
While many people assume that the Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States since it dissects the country, the Missouri River is actually the longest river in the United States. The largest rivers are not the only important waterways. Rivers of various sizes are used for sources of drinking water, fishing and recreation.
The size and volume of rivers may not seem important but the large rivers of the world have had an impact on man throughout history. Water is essential for life. The development of the ancient civilizations around rivers demonstrates how dependent we are on rivers.
Mesopotamia was an ancient civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The process of irrigation was developed around 6000 BC. This allowed farmers to produce more crops to support larger cities. It also meant that the people could stay in one location and grow food rather than being nomadic to hunt herds of animals.
In China, early agricultural civilizations formed along the Yangzi and Yellow Rivers. The ancient Egyptians recognized the importance of the Nile for irrigating crops. The annual Nile flooding deposited rich silt in the soil along the river. The rich soil could then support the agriculture that supported the ancient empire.
Ancient Egyptians also used the river for transportation. In fact, the Nile was the chief mode of transportation at that time. The Egyptians built boats for fishing, recreation, war, transportation and trade. Evidence of the Egyptians’ use of boats is in their art. Boats are depicted in carvings and paintings on walls.
Not only were rivers important to the development of civilization, rivers are vitally important to wildlife. Many plants and animals depend on rivers for water and food sources. Freshwater fish are examples of animals that benefit from rivers but so do those animals that eat the fish or other aquatic organisms and drink the water from the river.
The water cycle is the process by which water is recycled naturally. The water evaporates from lakes and oceans, condenses in the clouds, and falls as precipitation. Rivers aid the water cycle by carrying rain and snow melt towards the oceans.