Rivers have acted as cradles for civilization and agents of disaster; a river may be a barrier or a highway, bearing trade and sediment, culture and conflict. This volume is a celebration of rivers in all their diversity. The author, a geographer covers a wide and eclectic range of river-based themes, from physical geography and mythology, to industrial history and literary criticism. Offering a truly global look at rivers including the Amazon, the...

Details the characteristics of river ecosystems and profiles the types of creatures that live in them. Outlines the adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in rivers, and includes color photographs, a glossary, and further reading sources.

"Many of the world's major cities sprang up on the banks of rivers. Used for water, food, irrigation, transportation and power, rivers sustain life and connect places and countries, but most of us think of them simply as water-ways that must be crossed on the way to somewhere else. Relating the biographies of four European and two North American rivers, "A Story of Six Rivers" considers the place of rivers in our world and emphasizes the inextricable...

An assortment of animals living separate lives discover they need each other when they have a chance encounter on a river.

Simple sentences teach young readers about rivers, how they are formed, their importance in the ecosystems, and ways to keep them clean. Includes color photographs, a glossary, and sources of more information.

Imagine traveling a river through time. You float by Native Americans trapping beaver and pass boats full of European settlers. You spy waterwheels turning and factories buzzing with activity. Finally modern cities crowd the banks. Dive into this book, and learn about the changing lives of people in the Hudson River Valley.