Your Mission
Whether you live near or far away from a river, you probably rely on that river for fresh water. No matter where your nearest river is located, you are definitely connected to it through a watershed. To get the connection, keep reading.

A Defining Moment
Having trouble getting the picture? Look at a river system to see common characteristics of rivers. The diagram shows a watershed, a region of land within which all of the water—from tributaries, rain, snowmelt, or glacial melt—eventually flows to a single body of water. All the water that enters a watershed always flows within that watershed. That means that what people put into the water, and how people use the water available to them, is very likely to affect the quality of the water—and its users—both locally and in other areas of the watershed.

Not every river looks like the one in this drawing. In fact, each river is unique. But the picture can help you understand how rivers function, and that means you can better understand your connection to rivers.

Check out more about rivers, and travel along a river from mouth to source. (ThinkQuest)

Model Watersheds
A one-dimensional river system can’t tell the whole story, so you’re going to make a 3-D watershed model! In a group, create a model watershed with clay. Start upstream and build up enough clay to represent mountains. Downstream, the land should flatten out and lead to the mouth of your river. Use the river system diagram as a guide, or ThinkQuest. (ThinkQuest)

Who and what uses rivers? How are rivers used? Use miniature models to simulate things you might find along a river (cows, buildings, houses, etc.). Let the model dry overnight.

The next day, pour a slow, steady stream of water from the top of the mountain. Watch how the “river” runs from its source to its mouth. How might people and animals in your imaginary watershed use the river?

Take Action—Geography Action!
Now that you know how important rivers are, it’s important that you take care of rivers!

Start at home by figuring out how much water your family uses or by making an easy model watershed. (National Geographic Society)

Do other people in your school know how much people and wildlife rely on rivers? Display your painted watershed, and other drawings or photographs of rivers, to let everyone know how important rivers are.

Whatever you decide to do, tell us about it! Fill out the Geography Action! survey, and learn what other students are doing for rivers!

Activity adapted from “The Comprehensive Water Education Book,” page 151, courtesy of the International Office for Water Educations, Utah State University. For additional activities, please contact us at 800 922 4693.

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Photographs (left to right): Amazon River, Brazil, by George F. Mobley; Puget Island, Columbia River, Washington, by David S. Boyer; Sierra Newt, California, copyright Corbis

© 2001 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.