All throughout history, rivers have been important to plants and animals. They form the basis of many ecosystems and are invaluable sources of food and water. That’s why human civilizations developed on the banks of rivers and why they have been important to human society.

Nowadays, they’re used for transporting goods, irrigation, delivering potable water, and about a million other uses. Rivers are so important that a whole holiday has been created around them.

This holiday is known as World Rivers Day, and it encourages people and societies to give more thought to their river systems. After all, without these rivers, people wouldn’t exist, so maybe we should honor them when this holiday rolls around on the last Sunday in September.

The History of World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day was first observed in 2005 when climate-change activists organized an event to raise awareness about the impacts of pollution and global warming on the world’s ecosystems.

What started out as a local event soon grew into a holiday that’s observed in over 100 countries. The popularity of this holiday continues to grow as more and more people come to realize the importance of dealing with climate change.

Some Fun Facts About Rivers

Now, let’s take a few moments to talk about some of the facts that we’ve learned about rivers while researching World Rivers Day. The following points are designed to entertain for sure, but they’re also designed to educate people at the same time. In that spirit, let us say that we hope everyone enjoys the following facts.

• A river begins at the source, follows its course, and then ends at its mouth.
• The Yangtze River is the third-largest river in the world. It’s approximately 3,915 miles long.
• The Congo River is the deepest river in the world.
• The Missouri River is the longest river in North America. It’s approximately 2,341 miles long.

Observing World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day is a holiday that’s best observed by taking a few moments and thinking about the importance of rivers and how we can be better stewards of our natural environment.

It’s also a good day to host a cleanup party at a river or to petition the government to take better care of the river system in your country. It’s also a good day to spend time at the river with friends, coworkers, and family members.

People can also spread the word about this holiday through social media using the hashtag #WorldRiversDay. This is a great way to raise awareness about global warming and the effect of pollution on river systems and the communities these systems serve.