Watersheds

 river
Graphic source: About.com
The environment of a river goes beyond the river bed. Rivers can affect and be affected by what happens in their tributaries and the land around them. For instance, removing trees around a river:

The surrounding terrain can affect the river's:

which affect the river's ability to support plant life, fish and other living things.

The Mississippi River has created its own special environment around its delta. Rivers can also create wetlands around them in the floodplain area. The Colorado River has carved through billions of years of rock in the Grand Canyon. The fjord of the Saguenay River is a unique blend of fresh and salt water.

Certain rivers in Canada such as the French and Mattawa Rivers have been designated "Canadian Heritage Rivers"; they formed the original roads into the West.

The St. Lawrence River provides a water link from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

In the province of Ontario Canada, Conservation Authorities have been given responsibility for the watersheds of each of the main river systems in the province.

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