World Rivers Day – September 25, 2022, history significance why we celebrate
With World Rivers Day taking place on the fourth Sunday of September, it’s time for us to reflect on the significance of rivers. On September 25 this year, the best way to celebrate these Earthly lifelines is by reducing water pollution and although this can’t be done in one day, we can start by raising awareness about ways to restore our rivers to pristine form.
Do you know that about 65% of the United States’ drinking water comes from rivers? Rivers provide us with the ability to generate electricity, water crops, and have potable water. That’s why prosperous cities like Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Berlin were established near rivers.
History of World Rivers Day
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.
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 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, which was launched by the United Nations in 2005. This was created in order to improve awareness regarding the need to make sure that we better care for our water resources.
This ultimately led to World Rivers Day being created. This happened in response to a proposal that was initiated by Mark Angelo, a worldwide renowned river advocate.
WORLD RIVERS DAY TIMELINE
1951
An Influential Icon is Born
Mark Angelo, a nature conservationist, writer, speaker, and teacher is born in Canada.
1990s
Various River Restoration Activities Take Place
Some of Angelo’s notable passion projects are the restorations of the heavily damaged Guichon Creek in Burnaby and Still Creek in Vancouver.
2003
Promotional Programs about Rivers for “National Geographic
For the program, “Riverworld,” Angelo extensively travels to the wildest rivers on Earth like the Yangtze, Amazon, Nile, and Mekong.
2011
A Momentous Achievement
After Angelo cleans up the Britannia Creek, salmon reclaim their home turf after almost one hundred years.
RECOMMEND STORIES
- Remembering Ratan Tata: A Visionary Leader and Compassionate Humanitarian
- National College Colors Day – September 2, 2024: history
- Bison-ten Yell Day – September 2, 2024: history, FAQs
- National Lazy Mom’s Day – September 6, 2024
- World Coconut Day – September 2, 2024: A Nutty Celebration!
5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT RIVERS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
The longest river in the world
Over eleven countries share the water resources of the river Nile in Africa, and the entire length of the river is a whopping 4,132 miles.
The deepest river in the world
The Zaire River is about 700 feet deep.
The river of five colors
Due to its distinct colors, the Cano Cristales is also known as the river of five colors.
The shortest river in the world
The shortest river in the world is called the Roe river — it is only 201 feet long and is found in Montana.
A river can make all the difference
Despite being hailed as one of the safest cities in the world, El Paso in Texas is just a river away from Juarez, which is deemed the most dangerous city in the world.
How to celebrate World Rivers Day
There are so many ways we can all get involved with World 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 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.
One of the ways that you can celebrate River 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.
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!
