Dams And Rivers

From ancient times, rivers & dams have indeed been highly beneficial to men all across the globe. They can provide water supply, nourishment, fertiliser, and transport commodities from one location to another. It also serves as a significant animal shelter. Inside the ecology of rainforests and wetlands, rivers & dams are critical. The heart of our planet is rivers. Such naturally running waterways offer shelter, power, transport, and recreational opportunities to ecosystems worldwide. From Amazon to the Mekong, this collection looks at the world’s most renowned rivers and dams.

Important Rivers

Amazon River

The Amazon River is the world’s second-longest waterway, measuring around 6,400 kilometres, relatively slightly shorter than the Nile. However, reputable sources dispute the total length of two bodies of water. Before actually draining through into the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon and its tributaries pass through Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Colombia. Around 3,000 fish species have been reported inside the Amazon, while distinct species are continuously found. 

Nile River

The Nile is the world’s longest river, extending 6,650 kilometres across East Africa towards the Mediterranean. Both White Nile and the Blue Nile are two important tributaries of the Nile. The White Nile springs near central Africa’s Great Lakes area, whereas the Blue Nile begins near Lake Tana near Ethiopia. The Nile had an essential part in the evolution of Egyptian culture. Since the Nile exceeds its banks every year, silt deposition from the stream makes the area surrounding exceedingly fertile, allowing the Egyptians to plant grain and other products. The Nile had a significant role in ancient Egyptian spirituality as well.

Ganges River

The Ganges River begins in India’s Himalayan region and flows into the Sunderbans delta. Hindus have traditionally revered it as a sacred river, and this is revered as the deity Ganga in Religion. Many past provinces or empire capitals have indeed been situated on rivers, making it culturally significant. Hindus bury their dear ones’ remains inside the river, as well as some Hindus think that existence is completed until they bathe inside the Ganges at most once. River Ganges has indeed been designated as India’s National River due to its importance.

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the most significant river system in the USA & North America, 3,730 kilometres. This river begins from Lake Itasca & drains into the Gulf of Mexico just beyond New Orleans. This river, along with its largest tributary, namely the Missouri River, feeds all or portions of 31 states in the United States. The river was used to convey cotton, lumber, and foodstuffs. Throughout the 1820s, the famed Steamboats joined the industry. Steamboat activity declined once the railroads arrived in the mid-1800s, though it continued a mainstay until the 1920s. Some steamboats have remained as icons, like the Delta Queen.

Important Dams

Hoover Dam (Arizona, USA)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugrated this dam in 1935, and it is located on the Nevada-Arizona boundary. The duty of constructing the world’s most extensive concrete structure at the moment was handed to a consortium of six enterprises (called the “Six Companies”). Millions of workers have joined the project during Great Depression, providing a constant source of income for many families in the area. However, during the five years that it took to create the dam, over 100 employees died, leading to a shortage of safety precautions and excessive summer heat.

Vajont (Erto E Casso, Italy)

As it was being built, this dam became dubbed “The World’s Tallest Dam,” It has been one of the highest, standing at 860 feet. Even though it is a lovely construction, this dam has been inactive since October 1963. A massive landslide happened whilst the lake behind of dam was just being completed, causing a man-made tsunami that evacuated 50 million standard cubic feet underwater. This enormous torrent of water peaked at 820 feet above the dam’s crest and then slammed into the town beneath. The subsequent flood claimed the lives of 1,917 individuals, and the lake behind the dam never was filled up.

Conclusion

Rivers are essential to water sources that provide nutrients and water to locations worldwide. The importance inside the water cycle and then as surface water drainage pathways cannot be overstated. Rivers drain approximately 75% of the Earth’s land area. Dams are thought to be a vital body of freshwater and significant for a host of other reasons. They provide water for various reasons, namely home usage, agriculture, and commercial use. Dams are often used to generate hydroelectricity and facilitate river traffic.