A river is a natural stream of water that flows in a channel towards seas, lakes, or other rivers. Though rivers may appear timeless, they are shaped by powerful natural processes.

Most river water comes from runoff after rainfall. When rain falls on land, part of it soaks into the ground, while the rest flows downhill, joining creeks and streams. These small flows merge to create rivers, which usually form in valleys between ridges of land. The area collecting this water is called a drainage basin or watershed.

Groundwater also plays a key role. Water stored in underground aquifers, sometimes thousands of years old, seeps out when the land is saturated, feeding rivers. Over time, rivers carry not only water but also dissolved minerals, sediments, and even billions of tons of salt to seas and oceans.

Interestingly, even volcanoes contribute to rivers by releasing water vapor from Earth’s interior, adding to surface water supplies.

Rivers are essential for life. They provide drinking water, food, irrigation, transport, and hydropower, and have supported civilizations since ancient times. Without rivers, human settlements and ecosystems as we know them could not survive.