World Rivers Day

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, Rivers Day aims to remind people about just how important all of the waterways around the globe are to us.

The very first 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.

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.

History of Rivers Day

You might be wondering why we need a 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.

There is a lot of human activity that causes pollution and damage to a number of the world’s important waterways, and this is dangerous for the people who regularly use the rivers as a source of water and transport, as well as the ecosystems that could be living in them.

The main aim of 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.

How to celebrate Rivers Day

There are so many ways we can all get involved with Rivers Day. 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.

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 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.

No matter how you choose to spend the next 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!

Dala-Floda, Sweden

Floda Kyrkälvbro or Kyrkbron is a suspension bridge that extends over västerdalälven in the town of Dala-Floda in Gagnef municipality, Dalarna. With its 158 meters span, the bridge is the longest wooden suspension bridge for car traffic in Sweden. The faluröda bridge has become a well-known feature of the area's landscape.

Before a suspension bridge was built, there was already in the early 18th century a fleet bridge connecting Kyrkbyn with the villages southeast of västerdalälven. Carl Linnaeus traveled over it on his journey through Dalarna when he arrived with his company to Floda on August 13, 1734, and he also told about it. The fleet bridge was destroyed during the flood spring flood in 1916 and in 1922 a wooden suspension bridge was commissioned.

On September 9, 1980, the bridge was badly damaged. The southern pylon burned to the ground and the entire bridge structure was torn apart when it crashed into the river. The bridge was rebuilt according to the old drawings and reopened on 18 May 1983 by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in connection with Eriksgatan. A copper sign reminds me of that.

The church river bridge does not allow oncoming car traffic and only one car at a time. The maximum load is two tons. The free height of the bridge is 3.25 meters below the pylons and the width of the carriageway is 3.15 meters. The maximum speed is 30 km/h. Even the pylons, which support the steel wires, are made of wood and just over 10 meters high, they are covered with a saddle roof made of corrugated sheet metal. All wooden details, except the carriageway are painted in falured color. The bridge is managed by the Floda Kyrkälvbro Foundation, which was formed in 1983.

En man i 30-årsåldern vårdas på sjukhus med allvarliga skador efter att ha räddats upp från älven vid Kyrkbron i centrala Umeå, skriver lokala medier.

Han hoppade i från bron strax efter klockan ett natten till måndagen och började simma in mot land. Två män som gick förbi såg honom sedan försvinna under ytan, men lyckades dra upp honom.

Mannen vårdas på intensivvårdsavdelningen.