World Rivers Day 2020 - Important Date, History of World Rivers Day, Significance, Quotes & Facts

World Rivers Day 2020: World Rivers Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September to celebrate the world's waterway and to highlight the values of rivers as Rivers face an array of threats. These threats can be stopped by the active involvement of people to ensure the health of the rivers in the years ahead. Get more information about the History of World Rivers Day, Significance, Quotes, and Facts from this article.

Roselet Sheena Merli

World Rivers Day 2020

World Rivers Day 2020 is observed annually on the last Sunday of September. This year the day falls on 27th September 2020. World Rivers Day aims to strive to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. World Rivers Day aims to celebrate the waterways of the world and highlights the importance of rivers. The day aims to raise awareness and encourage people to preserve important and beautiful rivers. 

What is the History of World Rivers Day?

The United Nations (UN) launched the Water for Life Decade in 2005. The aim was to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for the water resources across the world. After this initiative, the World Rivers Day (WRD) was established in response to the proposal by Mark Angelo, the internationally renowned river advocate.

Many river enthusiasts from across the globe came together to organize the inaugural WRD event.  That first World Rivers Day was celebrated ib 2005 and it turned out to be a great success. In 2005, WRD was celebrated across dozens of countries.  WRD is annually celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September.  Currently, several million people across more than 70 countries celebrated the many values of waterways.

What is the importance of Rivers?

Rivers play a great significance in the lives of the people. The importance of rivers can not be ignored. Rivers play primary part of their lives as people will not be able to drink or eat without rivers (water). Industry depends on river water, as it provides the power sources for the machinery, and the disposal for the non-toxic waste material from the industry is led into the rivers after the production of their articles. Rivers provide water for the crops to grow. It helps make the infertile land, fertile again, so it also there for the growth of vegetation. Rivers are a primary source for the growth of agriculture, which is the backbone of a country.

The importance of rivers are:

  • Rivers carry nutrients and to areas all around the earth. Rivers plays crucial part in the water cycle, acting as drainage channels for surface water. It drains nearly 75% of the earth's land surface.

  • Rivers provide food and habitat for many of the earth's organisms.

  • Also, many rare trees and plants grow by rivers. Otters, Ducks, and beavers make their homes on the river banks.  Plants like bulrushes and Reeds grow along the river banks.

  • Some animals use the river for food and drink. Birds like kingfishers eat small fish from the river. Animals such as antelopes, lions, and elephants drink water from rivers. Animals like bears catch fish from rivers.

  • Many different species of wildlife are present in River deltas. Mammals, birds, and Insects use the delta for their homes and for food.

  • Rivers provide paths and travel routes for commerce, exploration, and recreation.

  • Valleys and plains near rivers provide fertile soils. Farmers in dry regions irrigate their cropland using water carried by irrigation ditches from nearby rivers.

  • Rivers act as an important energy source. In the early industrial era, shops, mills, and factories were built near rivers from which water could be used to power machines. Steep rivers are now used to power hydroelectric plants and their water turbines.

Causes, Effects & Solutions to River pollution

Causes:

Fertilizers and pesticides on the crops are washed through the soil by rain and end up in rivers. Pesticides and Fertilizers are harmful because they cause algae to grow. The algae then destroy water plants. Also, Factories that use water from rivers to power machinery or to cool down machinery put back the water containing chemicals in the river causes pollution in the river. Other than this, People dump rubbish and plastics such as bottles and crisp packets directly into rivers. These factors lead to River pollution.

Effects:

River Pollution kills water plants and animals. The polluted water causes diseases to animals, people, and other living beings that depend on water. People also get many diseases by eating an infected animal. Farming and other agricultural activities suffer as they depend on the river. 

Solutions:

Government of all the Countries must take efforts to clean dirty rivers. People should be educated about river pollution and how it affects the life of people and other living beings that depend on water. Governments and organizations can encourage and conduct events to clean up the river.

How to celebrate World Rivers Day?

On this World Rivers Day, you can get involved with organizations that celebrate Rivers Day. You can participate in a local event, such as a litter clean or a beach litter pick. Get active in working with teams to improve the quality of local rivers by cleaning them.

  • Take part in programmes that focus on the wildlife that lives in the rivers.

  • Celebrate the day by going for kayaking, sailing, or canoeing. 

  • Conduct virtual events and discussion to create awareness to keep the rivers clean and help the local wildlife enjoy healthy habitats. 

Indian Rivers

The list of Major Rivers of India is given below. 

  • Ganga

  • Satluj

  • Indus

  • Ravi

  • Beas

  • Jhelum

  • Yamuna

  • Chambal

  • Ghagra

  • Kosi

  • Betwa

  • Son

  • Brahmaputra

  • Narmada

  • Tapti

  • Mahanadi

  • Luni

  • Ghaggar

  • Sabarmati

  • Krishna

  • Godavari

  • Kaveri

  • Tungabhadra

Rivers - Quotes

I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding. - John O’Donohue

Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away. - Marcus Aurelius

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. - Heraclitus

You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it. Paulo Coelho

Rivers Never Go Reverse. So Try to Live Like a River. Forget your past and Focus on Your Future. - Unknown

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. - Rumi

Rivers are roads that move and carry us whither we wish to go. - Blaise Pascal

A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself. - Laura Gilpin

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World Rivers Day - FAQ

1. Who initiated the World Rivers Day?

The observation of World Rivers Day (WRD) was proposed by Mark Angelo, the internationally renowned river advocate. The proposal was approved. That first World Rivers Day was celebrated ib 2005 and it turned out to be a great success.

2. When is World Rivers Day observed?

World Rivers Day 2020 is observed annually on the last Sunday of September. This year the day falls on 27th September 2020.

3. How many rivers are in India?

The Seven major rivers in India are Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi along with their numerous tributaries make up the river system of India.