by Joanna Canning

Created on: July 12, 2009   Last Updated: July 15, 2009

Rivers have existed since the creation of continents and some of them are one of the oldest ecosystems on our planet. They have provided an optimal, high quality habitat for multiple species of plants and animals. In addition to creating a living environment for millions of creatures, they have also shaped the lives of people and the human activity in all the regions. They both often facilitated the settlement and growth of a community and proved to be a very destructive force, taking out human lives and their hard earned and worked possessions.

It is a great mistake to assume that rivers played an essential role for the primary communities only. Throughout the course of history we have seen that these natural watercourses had a significant impact on city formation and transportation. They repeatedly changed the course of military battles and had to be taken into consideration before any war campaign could commence. They have been a place of ritual inauguration, worship and sacrifice. Some of them have become associated with popular legends and myths that date back thousands of years. Furthermore, rivers have been a visual inspiration for artists since the dawn of time. Today, they provide a favorite spot for organizing social gatherings, barbecues, and as summer season begins, one cannot wait to get away from the city chaos and spend a few days surrounded by the calming hum of the river.

There is no denying the rivers are involved in every facet of our lives, even if we have ceased to notice their presence and importance. It would be worthy, however, to take a moment and think what lessons we can draw from their uninterrupted existence.

Source of life

Rivers have been a source of life and fertility since the life itself began. They continue to provide an indispensable habitat for living organisms. Like it is with all other creatures, our bodies too consist largely of water. Rivers ensure that water runs constantly in our taps and finally finds itself in plastic bottles and glasses, ready to hydrate and refresh us. Without this constant flow of water there would be no us, or not much on this planet for that matter ,and this basic fact should stay with us all the time.

In our daily reality we tend to attach excessive importance to unnecessary and artificial things and that often unreasonable choice of priorities makes us lose the clear-headed look at the essence of our existence, which is in fact uncomplicated and undemanding. When we strip down all

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