#chena river

“Birch and Aspen at Peak Fall Color” ~ Chena River, Fairbanks, Alaska 

World Rivers Day

They carve their way through the earth, providing a playground for adventure seekers and a peaceful refuge for nature lovers.

Almost every country around the world will have at least one river flowing through it. There are probably a number of other important waterways as well.

To ensure that these important bodies of water are celebrated and appreciated as they should be, World Rivers Day aims to remind people about just how important all of the waterways around the globe are to us.

World Rivers Day was launched alongside this new initiative, all thanks to a proposal that was put forward by Mark Angelo, who was already an international river advocate.

How to Celebrate World Rivers Day

There are so many ways we can all get involved with World Rivers Day. Check out a few of these to get started:

Participate in a World Rivers Day Event

You might be able to find a local event, such as a litter clean or a beach litter pick. There are loads of different events that aim to get people out and about being active in helping to improve local rivers.

Some events even focus on the wildlife that lives in our rivers. One example is to take part in a fish enhancement program that some local river organizations might be running near you.

Celebrate a Local River

It’s also a really good excuse to celebrate your local river as well. For instance, some people decide to take to the water to go sailing, kayaking, or canoeing.

No matter how you want to enjoy the rivers, there is really no better day to enjoy them than on World Rivers Day! You will be able to really appreciate what needs to go into keeping them clean and helping the local wildlife enjoy healthy habitats.

Plan a World Rivers Day Event

One of the ways that you can celebrate World Rivers Day is by planning an event. It is a good idea to select an event that is going to use local resources and expertise, and which will address local issues, customs, and interest.

Events on these days can range from a single event, such as a clean-up of a creek section or a paddle down a creek to a big local festival with a number of different features and events going on.

It is a good idea to look to involve different organizations and groups from the community so that you gain participation and local support.

Get in touch with local businesses, hospital foundations, the government, and local schools. You can also contact local interest groups as well, including the likes of environmental groups, recycling societies, heritage societies, music societies, art societies, daycares, paddlers, and birders.

By getting help from a number of different groups of people, you are going to be able to diversify your event.

This means that it is going to turn into a celebration of your local environment and the connections your community has with its rivers.

Get World Rivers Day Updates

You can also head to the World Rivers Day website and sign-up for updates and alerts regarding the different events that are going on around the world.

You never know, there may be something that is planned for your local area on this date.

No matter how you choose to spend the next World Rivers Day, we are sure that it will help you appreciate your local waterway a lot more than what you might do right now. If everyone did, imagine how clean our rivers could be!

Learn About World Rivers Day

Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.

World Rivers Day is all about celebrating the waterways of the world. It is a day that highlights the importance of rivers, aiming to heighten awareness and encourage people to preserve our important and beautiful rivers.

There are a number of different things that we can all do in order to protect our rivers. This includes using earth-friendly body products and biodegradable cleaning products.

After all, these chemicals all get washed down the drain, which means they end up going back into our rivers. Making a change like this can make a massive difference.

Other tips include turning your tap off while you are brushing your teeth, timing your showers, and keeping a full load when you are using your dishwasher or your washing machine. Small changes like this can go a very long way.

History of World Rivers Day

The very first World Rivers Day was celebrated in 2005 and since then it has been gaining in popularity with many events being organized around the world.

In this same year, the United Nations also launched its Water for Life Decade, with the aim of increasing the awareness of the need for taking better care of the world’s waters.

You might be wondering why we need a World Rivers Day as everyone is already aware of numerous rivers around the world. That’s true; but what some people aren’t aware of is just how under threat some of them are.

Human activity regularly pollutes and damages many of the world’s important waterways, which is dangerous for the people who regularly use the rivers as a source of water and transport and for the ecosystems that could be living in them.

The main aim of World Rivers Day is to ensure that everyone is aware of the importance of river stewardship and that we all do what we can to limit the threats that could potentially endanger our rivers.

So, you are probably wondering how this all started. Well, it began with the Water for Life Decade, launched by the United Nations in 2005.

This was created to improve awareness regarding the need to better care for our water resources. This ultimately led to World Rivers Day being created. This happened in response to a proposal initiated by Mark Angelo, a worldwide renowned river advocate.

World Rivers Day FAQs

Which river has changed course the most times in history?

The Kosi River in India and Nepal is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” because it has changed course dramatically over centuries.

Its shifting channels have displaced villages and altered landscapes. Scientists have recorded at least 12 major course changes in the past 250 years.

The river moves due to heavy monsoons and sediment deposits, creating new paths and unexpectedly flooding areas.

Some researchers compare it to the Mississippi River, which also historically shifted course before levees controlled its movement.

What is the longest underground river in the world?

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River in the Philippines stretches 8.2 km (5 miles) beneath limestone caves.

It flows directly into the sea, making it unique among underground rivers. Visitors can explore parts of it by boat, seeing bats, unique rock formations, and marine life.

It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some believe it extends even further beyond mapped sections.

Why do some rivers mysteriously disappear?

Some rivers vanish due to geological activity. The Sambhar Lake River in India disappears into the desert, reappearing elsewhere.

The Lost River in Idaho flows underground for miles before resurfacing. Other rivers, like Mexico’s Atoyac River, have been swallowed by sinkholes.

Climate change and human interference also cause rivers to dry up permanently, as seen with the Colorado River delta, which no longer reaches the sea.

What is the strangest thing ever found in a river?

People have discovered bizarre items in rivers, including ancient Viking swords, 14th-century gold coins, and even woolly mammoth bones.

In 2015, a fisherman in the Czech Republic found a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword in the Vltava River.

In 2021, archaeologists uncovered a perfectly preserved Roman chariot from the 2nd century AD buried near a river in Croatia.

Which river has the most dangerous wildlife?

The Zambezi River in Africa is home to crocodiles, hippos, and bull sharks. Hippos, despite their calm appearance, kill more humans than any other large African animal.

Nile crocodiles are aggressive predators, known for dragging prey underwater. Surprisingly, bull sharks have been found far inland in the river due to their ability to survive in freshwater.

What’s the weirdest river-related law?

In England, by ancient law, any unmarked swan swimming in the Thames River technically belongs to the British monarchy.

The annual Swan Upping ceremony counts and tags these birds for conservation.

In the U.S., some states have strict laws about fishing in rivers—fishing with your hands (called noodling) is illegal in several states because it threatens fish populations.

Which river has the strangest color?

The Rio Tinto in Spain runs blood red due to its high iron and sulfur content.

The acidic water supports almost no life, resembling conditions on Mars. NASA even studied the river to understand alien environments. Meanwhile, Canada’s Milk River appears milky due to fine clay particles suspended in the water.

Has a river ever caught fire?

Yes! The Cuyahoga River in Ohio famously caught fire at least 13 times due to pollution.

The most famous fire, in 1969, helped spark the U.S. environmental movement, leading to the Clean Water Act.

The fire was caused by oil slicks and industrial waste floating on the river. Today, the river has recovered significantly.

What’s the strangest use of a river in history?

During World War II, British forces floated fake corpses with false intelligence documents down rivers to trick the Nazis.

One famous case, Operation Mincemeat, involved planting a corpse with misleading papers in a river, fooling German spies into believing an attack would occur in Greece rather than Sicily.

What’s the only river that flows both ways?

The St. Johns River in Florida flows north most of the time but can reverse due to tides and storms.

It’s one of the few major rivers affected by ocean tides, causing unusual backflow. The Amazon River also experiences a temporary reversal during extreme flooding.

National River Day

These winding natural pathways, carving through the earth, play a vital role in sustaining diverse ecosystems and human life.

Given that rivers have been a vital part of human activity for millennia, it’s about time that these flowing bodies of water got a day where they are given the love and appreciation they deserve. National River Day is here to bring some attention to the benefits that rivers continue to offer humans and also to remind people that rivers are natural resources that need to be taken care of! 

History of National River Day

Bodies of fresh waters, especially rivers, have been foundational in the development of human civilization. With the necessity for people to live very near a water source, the flow of rivers has often been one of the most important factors in determining where a family or larger community could settle. Providing a supply of steady drinking water as well as opportunities for keeping crops watered and even allowing for transportation and trade.

Sometimes quiet and sometimes ferocious, rivers offer not only sustenance for life, but they also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. From fishing and canoeing to white-water rafting and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), rivers can be sources of entertainment, exercise, and just a heap of good old fun! Just be sure to treat the water and the area surrounding the river with respect by protecting it from pollution and misuse.

Today, due to various issues including climate change and human interference, the water sources of the planet, including oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, are becoming compromised. Through pollution or by simply drying up, many of the world’s rivers are less healthy and less bountiful than they were even just a few years ago.

National River Day has been established to raise awareness about and show appreciation for the vital, life-giving source that rivers all over the planet!

National River Day Timeline

350 Million years ago 

Oldest Known River 

The Finke, in Central Australia, is believed to be the oldest river in the world.

10,000 BC

Mississippi River is formed 

A very important river in the US, the Mississippi is formed when glaciers from the last Ice Age recede.

1968

Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) begins 

This effort to understand the ebb and flow of the rivers throughout the US comes about through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

1985

Big River hits Broadway

This 10x Tony award winning musical hits New York’s Broadway to tell the story of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.

2003

Euphrates and Tigris rivers show signs of drying up

Satellite images show some of the lowest levels in human history for these important rivers in the Middle East.

How to Celebrate National River Day

Pay some respect to the rivers of the world on this important day! In celebration of National River Day, show some love and get involved by implementing some of these ideas:

Learn About the World’s Rivers 

Get excited and involved with National River Day by getting educated about some of the most interesting rivers in the world. Raise awareness for this important day by learning and sharing some fun facts in person with friends and family, or on various social media outlets.

Check out some of these fascinating facts about rivers to get started:

Found in North Africa, the Nile river is considered to be the longest river in the world, measuring more than 4,100 miles long, flowing through eleven different countries. The Amazon river comes in a close second, at 3,977 miles.

In 2007, a Slovenian born marathon swimmer, Martin Strel, swam the entire Amazon river – complete with crocodiles, piranhas and more.

Rivers that run over cliffs eventually lead to stunning waterfalls. The highest one in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, measuring 3,212 feet high.

Rivers not only provide sustenance for humans, but thousands of different varieties of animals, plants, and at least 10,000 different species of fish.

Organize a River Clean Up

An excellent way to get involved with National River Day would be to grab a group of friends or some members of a volunteer organization in the community and head on over to a local river to do some cleaning up. Equipped with garbage sacks, trash sticks and rubber gloves, this would be a great time for a group of folks to spend some time picking up trash, debris, and litter. This is particularly important in regards to items made of plastic that will never biodegrade and can even be poisonous to the water source and the animals that depend on it.

Watch a Movie Featuring a River

Show some love to the life-giving rivers of the world by checking out a movie or film that features one. Get started with one of these:

A River Runs Through It (1992). This one features Brad Pitt, playing the son of a rural minister (Tom Skerritt), where they spend time fly fishing on the river.

The River Wild (1994). This thriller starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon takes place almost entirely on a whitewater rafting river adventure.

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021). Kids and adults alike will enjoy this animated film which teaches an appreciation of this dance as a celebration of life.

Green Days in the River (2014). This coming of age tale tells the story of a boy in a 1952 village who struggles with poverty, love and life.

Make Some Sustainable Water Choices

One of the best ways to get involved with National River Day might be to make some choices that will help to reduce the use of water personally and in the local area. Check out some of these important ways that households can live more sustainably and conserve water:

Install Low Flow Shower Heads. Use less water by installing modern shower heads in every bathroom in the house. It’s possible to save up to 3,000 gallons of water or more each year!

Collect Rainwater. Those folks who live in places where they need to water their garden or lawn can save on water by collecting it in a rain barrel and then using it as needed. Folks in Colorado or Utah may want to check with local legislation first to see if this is permitted.

Turn Off Faucets. Instead of letting the faucet run in the bathroom while brushing teeth or in the kitchen while walking over to the refrigerator and back, shut the water off every single time.

Save Water with Flushes. A new dual-flush toilet or a conversion kit for a current toilet allows less water to flow for flushes.

Join a Conservation Group

Many different conservation organizations are working to keep rivers clean or to clean them up after they have been polluted. They advocate with government agencies and companies to change laws that work to protect natural areas, including rivers. In honor of National River Day, join in by volunteering with a local group.

Those who feel like celebrating this unique waterways at another time of the year should look into World Rivers Day, which takes place in late September.  

National River Day FAQs

Where is Virgin River filmed?

Virgin River is a Netflix show filmed mostly in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

Is the Euphrates river drying up?

A vital water source in western Asia, the Euphrates river is drying up due to climate change.

What is the longest river in the world?

At more than 4,100 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world.

Where does the Mississippi River start?

The Mississippi River starts as a trickle from Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows there all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans.

Who is in A River Runs Through It? 

This 1992 film featured Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Joseph-Gordon Levitt and many others.

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