NAVIGATING THE NILE AND OTHER IMPORTANT RIVERS OF THE WORLD

Transcription

1 NAVIGATING THE NILE AND OTHER IMPORTANT RIVERS OF THE WORLD Grade Level: Third Grade Presented by: Julie Thomas and Sharon Jones, Brigham Academy, Winter Haven, FL Length of Unit: Four Lessons (30 to 45 minute classes) with Culminating Activity I. ABSTRACT This third grade unit will focus on developing an understanding of the physical characteristics that classify a river as important. Topics such as location, size, tributaries, drainage basin, and output flow will be covered. Also, past and present usage of the rivers will be discussed. II. III. IV. OVERVIEW A. Concept Objectives: Students will become knowledgeable about the important rivers of the world. They will explore location, size, tributaries and sources, drainage basin, and past and present usage of these rivers. B. Specific content from the Core Knowledge Sequence covered: Geography, World Civilization, and American Civilization. C. Skills to be taught: mapping skills, listening comprehension, compare and contrast skills, and self-assessment. BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE A. For teachers: 1. Hirsch, E.D. What Your 3 rd Grader Needs To Know, New York: Doubleday, 1992, pages 85 and Compton s Interactive World Atlas, Computer Program, The Learning Company, Cambridge, MA., The 1996 Grolier s Multimedia Encyclopedia, Version 8.01, Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., B. For Students: 1. Hirsch, E.D. What Your 2 nd Grader Needs To Know, New York: Doubleday, 1992, page 91. Recall that in second grade, students learned that streams join with other streams until they become a river. Rivers often separate one state or country from another state or country. This is why states and countries often have irregular borders. RESOURCES Reproducible Activity Books : Moore, Jo E. Europe: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Evan-Moore Corp. Moore, Jo E. North America: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Even-Moore Corp. Moore, Jo E. Australia: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Evan-Moore Corp. Moore, Jo E. Africa: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Evan-Moore Corp. Moore, Jo E. South America: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Evan-Moore Corp. Moore, Jo E. Asia: Geography Unit. Monterey, CA: Evan-Moore Corp. Books: Taylor, Barbara. Rivers and Oceans. New York: Kingfisher Books, ISBN

2 Owen, Andy and Miranda Ashwell. Rivers: Geography Starts. Des Plaines, IL: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing, ISBN Haslam, Andrew. Rivers: Make It Work! Chicago, IL: World Book Inc., ISBN Knowlton, Jack. Geography From A to Z: A Picture Glossary. HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN Follett, Dwight. Little Creek, Big River. New York: Follett Publishing Co., Locker, Thomas. Where The River Begins. New York: Dial Books, 1984 V. LESSONS A. Lesson One: Introduction to the Important Rivers of the World 1. Lesson Content: Seventeen important rivers of the world. 2. Concept Objective: To develop an understanding of what qualifies a river as important or great. 3. Skill Objective: Students will locate and identify the seventeen important rivers of the world. B. Materials: World wall map, globe or desk size world map (one for each student), overhead transparency of world map, chart paper, markers, overhead projector. C. Vocabulary: Creek, brook, stream, river, drainage basin or water shed, tributary. See Appendix A. D. Procedures/Activities: 1. Have students keep a River Portfolio throughout the unit. They will store such items as vocabulary words, fact charts, and maps inside the portfolios. The portfolios can be decorated with a world map showing the important rivers of the world. 2. Create a river web listing what students already know about rivers. 3. Create a Question Board. This can be a piece of poster board, chart paper, or large construction paper. Divide the board in half. Label one side Questions and the other Answers. Have students write questions that they have about rivers on a sticky note and post it on the question side of the board. As questions are answered throughout the unit, write the answer on the sticky note and move the sticky note to the answer side of the board. 4. Read What Makes a River Great? on pages 85 and 86 of What Your Third Grader Needs To Know by E.D. Hirsh. As you read, have students locate the river being discussed on a map, globe, or student desk map. 5. Read Where The River Begins by Thomas Locker. 6. Read Little Creek, Big River by Dwight W. Follett E. Evaluation/Assessment: 1. Have students answer questions on river location using a map or globe. See Appendix B. Lesson Two: Navigating the Important Rivers of Asia and Africa A. Objectives: 1. Lesson Content: To explore the important rivers of Asia: the Ob, the Huang He, the Ganges, and the Indus. And to explore the important rivers of Africa: the Zaire (also known as the Congo), the Nile, and the Niger. 2. Concept Objective: Students will become knowledgeable about the important rivers of the world. They will explore location, size, drainage basin, and past and present usage of these rivers. 3. Skill Objective: Mapping skills, listening comprehension. B. Materials: Crayons, markers, or colored pencils, and different color Vis-avis markers for the teacher. Nile Fact Sheet, Appendix C. Zaire Fact Sheet, Appendix D. Niger Fact Sheet, Appendix E. Ob Fact Sheet, Appendix F. 2

3 Huang He Fact Sheet, Appendix G. Ganges Fact Sheet, Appendix H. Indus Fact Sheet, Appendix I. Blank physical map of Africa, page 2 of Africa, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead transparency for the Teacher. Blank physical map of Asia, page 2 of Asia, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead transparency copy for the teacher. C. Vocabulary: River, drainage basin or watershed, tributary, source. D. Procedures/Activities: 1. Label rivers and major tributaries of Asia. 2. Color drainage basin of each river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 3. Read factual information on each river for Asia. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix J) together as information is read. 4. Label rivers and major tributaries of Africa. 5. Color drainage basin for each river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 6. Read factual information on each river for Africa. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix K) together as information is read. E. Evaluation/Assessment: 1. Have students answer questions at the bottom of Appendix J and K. Lesson Three: Navigating the Important Rivers of North America and South America A. Objectives: 1. Lesson Content: To explore the important rivers of North America; the Mississippi, the Yukon, and the MacKenzie. And to explore the important rivers of South America; the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Parana. 2. Concept Objective: Students will become knowledgeable of the important rivers of the world. They will explore location, size, drainage basin and past and present usage of these rivers. 3. Skill Objective: Mapping skills and listening comprehension. B. Materials: Crayons, markers, or colored pencils, and different color Vis-a-vis markers for the teacher. Mississippi River Fact Sheet, Appendix L. Yukon River Fact Sheet, Appendix M. MacKenzie River Fact Sheet, Appendix N. Amazon River Fact Sheet, Appendix O. Parana River Fact Sheet, Appendix P. Orinoco River Fact Sheet, Appendix Q. Blank physical map of North America, page 2 of North America, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead transparency for the teacher. Blank physical map of South America, page 2 of South America, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead transparency copy for the teacher. C. Vocabulary: River, drainage basin or watershed, tributary, source. D. Procedures/Activities: 1. Label rivers and major tributaries of North America. 2. Color drainage basin for each river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 3. Read factual information on each river for North America. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix R) together as information is read. 4. Label rivers and major tributaries of South America. 5. Color drainage basin for each river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 6. Read factual information on each river for South America. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix S) together as information is read. E. Evaluation/Assessment: 3

4 1. Have students answer questions at the bottom of Appendix R and S. Lesson Four: Navigating the Important Rivers of Europe and Australia A. Objectives: 1. Lesson Content: To explore the important rivers of Europe; the Danube, the Rhine, and the Volga; to explore the important river of Australia; the Murray- Darling. 2. Concept Objective: Students will become knowledgeable of the important rivers of the world. They will explore location, size, drainage basin, and past and present usage of these rivers. 3. Skill Objective: Mapping skills and listening comprehension. B. Materials: Crayons, markers, or colored pencils and different color Vis-a- vis markers for the teacher. Danube River Fact Sheet, Appendix T. Rhine River Fact Sheet, Appendix U. Volga River Fact Sheet, Appendix V. Murray-Darling River Fact Sheet, Appendix W. Blank physical map of Europe, page 2 of Europe, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead transparency for the teacher. Blank physical map of Australia, page 2 of Australia, by Jo Ellen Moore, one for each student and an overhead copy for the teacher. C. Vocabulary: River, drainage basin or watershed, tributary, source D. Procedures/Activities: 1. Label rivers and major tributaries of Europe. 2. Color drainage basin of each river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 3. Read factual information on each river of Europe. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix X) together as information is read. 4. Label river and major tributaries of Australia. 5. Color drainage basin of the river a different color. Create a key at the bottom of the page. 6. Read factual information on the river for Australia. Students and teacher fill in chart (Appendix Y) together as information is read. E. Evaluation/Assessment: 1. Have students answer questions at the bottom of Appendix X and Y. VI. VII. CULMINATING ACTIVITY 1. Divide into small groups and do the activity on page 13 of Rivers and Oceans by Barbara Taylor. HANDOUTS/WORKSHEETS (see appendices) VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ruiz, Andres L. Rivers: Sequences of Earth and Space. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1996 ISBN Rawlings, Marjorie: The Secret River. New York: Charles Scribner s Sons and Leonard Weisgard, Dabcovich, Lydia. Follow the River. New York: E. P. Dutton, ISBN Hirsch, E. D., Joseph Kett, James Trefil. The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Co., ISBN Taylor, Barbara. River Life. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., Goodes s World Atlas: 19 th Edition. Rand McNally and Co.,

5 Appendix A: Vocabulary Stream a body of flowing water Brook a small stream Creek a medium-sized stream Drainage Basin or Watershed-area drained by a water system Tributary a stream or river than flows into a larger river, sometimes called a source Mouth the place where a stream flows into a larger body of water. The mouth of a river is the end of that river. Delta a fan shaped deposit of mud and sand, often green with vegetation, found at the mouth of many rivers. Headwater or Source the area where a river originates and begins its journey to the sea. Headwaters are regions rich in rainfall, melting snow and bubbling springs. 5

6 Appendix B: Introduction Questionnaire 1. On what continent is the Mississippi River located? 2. Name two important rivers in Africa. 3. Name two important rivers located in Asia. 4. What important river is located in Australia? 5. The Amazon is located in which continent? 6. Name an important river in Europe. 7. What is a tributary? 8. Name a major tributary of the Nile River. 9. Name another important river in South America other than the Amazon. 10. What is a drainage basin or watershed? 6

7 Appendix C: Nile River Fact Sheet Length: The Nile is 4,132 miles long. It is the longest river in Africa. Sources: The White Nile and the Blue Nile are the two major tributaries of the Nile. The Atbarah River is also a major tributary. Major Cities: Major cities located along the Nile are Gondokoro, Khartoum, Aswan, Thebes/Luxor, Karnak, Hurghada, Alexandria, Cario, and Port Said. Flow: The Nile River average discharge is 3.1 million liters or 680,000 gallons per second. The Nile River empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Drainage Basin: The Nile River basin covers about one tenth of the total land area of Africa. It extends to 1,293,000 square miles and is bordered roughly by the Red Sea and Ethiopian Highlands on the east, the African Plateau on the south, the Jebel Marra and Libyan Desert on the west and the Mediterranean on the north. Past and Present Usage: The Egyptian Civilization, one of the oldest in the world, flourished in the Nile River Valley. Egypt was called the gift of the Nile because the Nile brought life to the Egyptian valley. The Egyptians were able to tell time by the Nile because it flooded at the same time each year, in August and September. Today the Nile is controlled by the Aswan High Dam and is used for irrigation of crops, tourism and fishing. ppendix D: Zaire (Congo) River Fact Sheet Length: the Zaire or Congo River is about 3,000 miles long. Sources: The Luapula and the Lualaba form the headwaters of the Zaire. Major tributaries are the Ubangi, the Lomela, the Lomami, and the Kasai Rivers. Major Cities: Major cities on the Zaire are Kisangani, Kinshasa, Matadi, and Brazzaaville. Flow: Each second the river pours 1,200,000 cubic feet of water into the Atlantic Ocean. Drainage Basin: Most of the Zaire River Basin lies within the boundaries of Zaire. It drains more than 1,600,000 miles of tropical Africa. The basin extends west and north into Gabon, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic. To the south, it reaches into Angola and Zambia. To the east, it reaches into Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the mainland of the United Republic of Tanzania. Past and Present Usage: Millions of people live in the Zaire or Congo Basin. Most of the people are Bantus. The countries of the Zaire or Congo Basin export mineral and agricultural products. 7

8 Appendix E: Niger River Fact Sheet: Length: The Niger River is the third longest river on the continent of Africa after the Nile and the Congo (Zaire). The Niger River is 2,600 miles long. Sources: The largest tributary of the Niger is the Benue. Major Cities: Major cities of the Niger River include Bamako in Mali and Onitsha in Nigeria. Flow: The Niger River begins in the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea. Its course takes it near the Sahara Desert and the ancient city of Timbuktu and empties into the Gulf of Guinea. Drainage Basin: The Nigers watershed covers about 600,000 square miles. The Niger delta is the largest in Africa and covers an area of about 14,000 square miles. Past and Present Usage: During the 12 th - 15 th centuries, the Niger was the site of the Mali and Songhai empires. The Niger is a source of irrigation and hydroelectric power. It is the lifeline of Mali, where fishing produces and annual catch of more than 100,000 tons of fish. The river is sparsely populated except for its two major cities. Most of the river is used for commercial shipping of various exports. Many ethnic groups can be found along the river s course. 8

9 Appendix F: OB River Fact Sheet: Length: The Ob River is 3,362 miles in length, making it the 4 th longest river system in Asia. It is located in northern Asia or Russia. Sources: A major source of the Ob is the Irtysh. Its headwaters are the Biya and Katun Rivers that begin in the Altai Mountains. Major Cities: Novosibirsk is the only major city located on the Ob. It became a major industrial center because if it s proximity to the river. Other cities include Biysk, Khanty, Mansiysk and Salebhard. Flow: The Ob and its tributary begin in the Altay Mountains. The Ob empties into the Gulf of Ob and then into the Kara Sea. The Gulf of Ob is free from ice only about two months of the year. Drainage Basin: The Ob River drains an area of 1,148, 649 square miles. Past and Present Usage: The river is very busy during the two months that it is ice-free. It is also a source of hydroelectric power. 9

10 Appendix G: Huang He River Fact Sheet Length: the Huang He (or Hwang Ho, also known as the Yellow River) is the second longest river in Asia after the Yangteze. It is 2,900 miles in length. Sources: The main source of the Huang He River is the Wei He. Major Cities: Lanzhou, Kaifeng, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Louyang, Xi an and Baotou are the cities located along the Huang He River. Flow: It begins in the Tibetan Highlands and empties into the Yellow Sea in North China. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin for the Huang He River is 290,000 square miles. Past and Present Usage: The Huang He River is valuable for irrigation and power. It is too shallow in the winter and too swift in the summer for navigation. The Huang He is known as the cradle of Chinese Civilization. Many times it has changed its course. It has entered the sea through different mouths 600 miles apart. The river received its name because of its unusually high silt content, which gives it a yellow color. It is known as the sorrow of China because of its frequent and often catastrophic flooding. Since the 3 rd millennium there have been 26 course changes and flooded more than 1,500 times. The last major course change was in Since 1950, as a result of numerous waterworks that have been built, no major floods have occurred in two decades. 10

11 Length: The Ganges River is 1,557 miles long. Appendix H: Ganges River Fact Sheet Sources: The headwater of the Ganges is the Bhagirathi. Other major sources include the Yamuna and the Hooghly. The Ganges water supply is dependent partly on monsoon season rains and the melting snows of the Himalayans. Major Cities: Major cities located along the Ganges include Calcutta, Howrah, Varanasi, Allahabad and Kanpur. Allahabad and Kanpur are holy cities where temples crowd the riverbanks. Flow: The Ganges begins in Himalayas near Nanda Devi. The two main headstreams are Alaknanda and Bagirathi. It empties into the Bay of Bengal. At the mouth, it is joined by the Brahamputra River. Their combined delta is the largest in the world. It begins 200 miles from the Bay of Bengal and is largely a tangled swampland. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin for the Ganges River is 409,000 square miles. The total basin covers about 376,800 square miles. Past and Present Usage: Many Hindus believe the Ganges to be a life-giving river because their crops depend on its waters. To the Hindus, the Ganges is sacred. They call it Gangamai, which means Mother Ganges. They believe that bathing in its waters will wash away sin, and to die on its banks assures eternal peace to the soul. The Ganges is extremely polluted by industrial and human waste. A major clean-up project began in

12 Length: the Indus River is 1,800 miles in length. Appendix I: Indus River Fact Sheet Sources: great ice glaciers feed The Indus River and melted snows in the Himalayas and the Karakoram Range. The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and the Sutlej join the Indus on the dry plain of the Punjabi in Pakistan. Punjab means land of the five rivers. Major Cities: A major city located on the Indus is Tatta. Flow: The Indus begins in the melted snows of the Himalayas in the Tibet region of China and empties into the Arabian Sea. Past and Present Usage: The Indus River was an important river of the ancient Indus Civilization. Sometimes referred to as the Harappan civilization, it existed from about 2700 BC to 1750 BC and was similar to Egyptian Civilizations in layout and material culture. The river has also been used as a trade route and as a path through which conquerors descended on India. The waters of the Indus and its tributaries make possible the cultivation of the dry land along their rounds. Farmers have used their waters since prehistoric times. 12

13 Appendix J: Rivers of Asia Chart River Length Sources Mouth Fact Ob Huang He Ganges Indus 1. What is the longest river in Asia? 2. Name a source of the Huang He River? 3. What is the Ganges called? 4. How long is the Indus River? 5. Which river is located in Russia? 13

14 Appendix K: Rivers of Africa Chart River Length Sources Mouth Fact Nile Niger Zaire (Congo) 1. Place the three important rivers of Africa in order from longest to shortest. 2. Name the largest tributary of the Nile. 3. What river is also known as the Congo? 4. Which river is the largest tributary of the Niger River? 14

15 Appendix L: Mississippi River Fact Sheet Length: The Mississippi River is 2,300 miles long. Sources: The major tributaries are the Illinois and Missouri Rivers. Flow: The Mississippi River enters the Gulf of Mexico through a delta area of more than 12,000 square miles. Drainage Basin: The Mississippi River drainage basin extends from western Pennsylvania to Idaho. It embraces two fifths of the continental United States, not including Alaska. The systems basin includes all or part of thirty-one states and two Canadian provinces, covering some 1,250,000 square miles, or about one-eighth of North America. Past and Present Usage: From the earliest days until railroads were built in the western United States, the Mississippi and its branches carried most of the traffic through the basin. These crafts carried pork, corn, flour, whiskey, hides and slaves to New Orleans. There, the boats were sold for lumber or reloaded with manufactured goods and poled back upstream. The round-trip often took nine months. 15

16 Appendix M: Yukon River Fact Sheet Length: The Yukon River is 1,979 miles long. It is the 3 rd largest river in North America. Sources: The main tributaries of the Yukon include the Pilly, Stewart and White Rivers of Canada and the Koyukuk, Porcupine and Tanana Rivers of Alaska. Major Cities: Major towns located along the Yukon are Whitehorse, Fort Selkirk, Dawson (Canada) and Fort Yukon, Tanana, Eagle, Holy Cross, Pilot Station and Mountain Village in Alaska. Flow: the Yukon originates in Tagish Lake on the border of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia. The river rises within 15 miles of the Pacific Ocean and reaches the Bering Sea on Alaska s West Coast. It empties into the Bering Sea. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin covers 320,000 square miles. Past and Present Usage: Without sufficient rail and highway facilities, Alaska s primary transportation route was the Yukon River until the 1940 s. The completion in 1942 of the Alaska Highway and its connecting roads made river transport less essential. Natives still depend on the basin for hunting and trapping for their livelihoods. It is still important for local shipping of salmon fishing and hydroelectric power. 16

17 Appendix N: MacKenzie River Fact Sheet Length: The MacKenzie River is 2,635 miles long. Sources: The MacKenzie Rivers sources are Lake Athabaska, Great Slave Lake and Great Bear lake. Major Cities: Fort Good Hope, Fort Norman, Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Norman Wells and Olkavik. Flow: The MacKenzie Rivers course runs through northwestern North America for 2,635 miles from its source in the Rocky Mountains northward to the Arctic Ocean. Drainage Basin: The MacKenzie s basin is the largest in Canada and in North America is second to the Mississippi-Missouri system. Past and Present Usage: Minerals and limited lumber and agricultural products make up the economy of the area s settlements. Petroleum deposits were discovered in Others were found in the 1970s near the river delta. During it s ice-free season it is used for navigation and transportation of goods. The MacKenzie was named for Sir Alexander MacKenzie ( ), who explored the river from the Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean. The British had offered a reward for the discovery of what people believed would be a Northwest Passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 17

18 Appendix O: Amazon River Fact Sheet Length: The Amazon River was thought to be the 2 nd longest river in the world. It is 4,000 miles long. However, in 1994 a Peruvian research team declared that the rivers true source was the Ucayli River, not the Maranon, which may make it the longest river in the world. Major Cities: its major cities are Obidos and Manaus Flow: The Amazon headstreams form in the Peruvian Andes and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of about 58 billion gallons per second. It carries 20% of earth s total water discharge and its flow is so powerful that it noticeably dilutes the ocean water of the Atlantic along the coastline. Drainage Basin: The Amazon with its tributaries drains an area of 2,722,000 square miles east of the Andes. Past and Present Usage: Upstream from the mouth of the Amazon are important ports. Ships bring in clothing, food, tools, and other products. They pick up raw materials such as animal skins, Brazil nuts, lumber and rubber. It gets its name from Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana. He reported to have been attacked by female warriors during an exploration and gave the river its name, which refers to the Amazons of Greek Mythology. 18

19 Appendix P: Parana River Fact Sheet Length: The Parana River is 3,032 miles long. It is South America s 2 nd longest river. Sources: The upper Parana has three large tributaries, the Tie te, the Paranapanema, and the Iguacu. The lower Parana receives water from the Paraguay River from the Salado River. Major Cities: Its major cities are Corrientes, Argentina, and Rosario. Flow: the Parana flows mainly among high plateaus through Paraguay and Argentina. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin covers an area of 1,081,000 square miles. Past and Present Usage: The first European to travel Parana was Sebastian Cabot in Later it became the main explorer route to the interior. 19

20 Length: The Orinoco River is 1,336 miles long. Appendix Q: Orinoco River Fact Sheet Sources: Among the more than 430 sizable tributaries are the Gudviare, the Meta and Vichada in Columbia and the Apuce, Aranca, Capanaparo and Caroni in Venezuela. Major Cities: The major port cities along its route are Ciudad Bolivia and Guayana. Flow: The Orinoco has its source in the Parima Range. It flows in a giant arc through Venezuela to the Atlantic Ocean where it empties via a large delta. Drainage Basin: The Orinoco drains an area of about 366,000 square miles. It includes tropical rain forests, the savannas of Colombia and Venezuela and the Guiana Highlands. Past and Present Usage: Ciudad Bolivar is the center of the Orinoco River trade. Steamships run between Ciudad Bolivar and the island of Trinidad most of the year. Christopher Columbus probably sighted the mouth of the Orinoco in Its source was not located until

21 Appendix R: North America River Chart River Length Sources Mouth Fact Mississippi Yukon MacKenzie 1. What is the longest river in North America? 2. Name a major source of the Mississippi River. 3. Who was the MacKenzie River named after? 4. Name a major city along the Mississippi. 5. Where is the mouth of the Yukon River? 21

22 Appendix S: South America River Chart River Length Sources Mouth Fact Amazon Parana Orinoco 1. What is the longest river in South America? 2. Name a major city located on the Orinoco. 3. Name a present usage of the Amazon River. 4. Where is the mouth of the Parana located? 5. Name a source of the Orinoco. 22

23 Appendix T: Danube River Fact Sheet Length: The Danube River is 1,770 miles in length; the longest in Central Europe. It is the 2 nd longest on the continent after Volga. Sources: The Danube collects its waters from over 300 tributaries. Major sources include the Altmuht, the Drava, the Sava and the Tisza Rivers and alpine tributaries Inn, Lech and Isar. Major Cities: A major city along the Danube is Belgrade. Flow: The Danube begins in the Black Forest Mountains in Germany and empties into the Black Sea. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin covers 8,315,000 square miles. 23

24 Length: The Rhine is 820 miles in length. Appendix U: Rhine River Fact Sheet Sources: The Rhine begins in the Swiss Alps. Its headwaters are the Vorderrheir and the Hinterrhein. Tributaries include the Neckar, the Main, the Ruhr, the Aare, the Moselle, and the Erft. Major Cities: Major cities along the Rhine include Schaffhausen, Basel, Mannheim, Worms, Mainz, Weisbaden, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Flow: The Rhine begins in alpine headwaters and empties into the North Sea. Canals link the Rhine with the Rhone, the Marne, the Danube, the Ems and other navigable rivers to provide transportation and trade. Drainage Basin: Its drainage basin covers 97,300 square miles. Past and Present Usage: The Rhine is the busiest waterway in Europe. Steamers and barges carry a steady stream of cargo on the Rhine. The Rhine has been a path to conquest and trade. It was once a frontier of the Roman Empire and served as a gateway for Germanic tribes. During the Middle Ages it was a route for overland trade between Central Europe, Italy, and the Far East. It was also a major line of German defense during World War II. 24

25 Appendix V: Volga River Fact Sheet Length: The Volga River is 2,325 miles in length. It is the longest in European Russia and Europe. Sources: The Volga River has about 200 tributaries. Two major sources are the Oka River and the Kama River. Melting snow makes up 60% of the rivers water source. Major Cities: Major cities are Tver, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Nizhni, Novgorod, Samara, Kazan, Saratoav, Volgograd and Astrakhan. Flow: The Volga begins in the Valdai Hills northwest of Moscow, Russia and empties into the Caspian Sea. The Volga is a slow flowing river. Its average flow rate at the mouth is 271,186 Cubic Feet per second. Drainage Basin: The drainage basin for the Volga covers more than one third of the European section of Russia or 525,000 square miles. Past and Present Usage: The Volga is used for transportation, trade, hydroelectric power and irrigation. There are eleven large piers and ports located along its route and it has ten dams. It was an important trade route linking Scandinavia, Persia and Central Asia in the 8 th and 9 th centuries and later settled by Slavs. 25

26 Appendix W: Murray-Darling River Fact Sheet Length: The Murray-Darling River is 2,310 miles long. Sources: The tributaries for the Murray-Darling River rising in the Great Dividing Range are the Lachlan, Murrumbigee, Culgoa, Warrego, Gwydio, Namoi, Macquarie and Bogan Rivers. It begins near Mount Kosciusko in the snowy mountains of eastern Victoria and southeast New South Wales. Major Cities: There is no major cities located along the Murray-Darling River. Flow: The Murray-Darling flows northwestward and forms the boundary between Victoria and New South Wales. It empties into the Indian Ocean. Drainage Basin: The Murray-Darling River basin covers 2,310 miles. Past and Present Usage: It is unsuitable for navigation, important for irrigation. A system of dams helps irrigate about 1 ½ million acres of land. The dams were built under the Murray River Agreement made in 1915 by New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. As a result of the irrigation, there has been a high salt content in soil over a large area. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission was established in 1988 to try to solve ecological problems. 26

27 Appendix X: Europe and Australia River Chart River Length Source Mouth Fact Danube Rhine Volga Murray-Darling 1. What is the longest river in Europe? 2. Name a tributary of the Rhine River. 3. Name a major city located along the Danube River. 4. Under what agreement were the dams built on the Murray River? 5. What year was the Murray-Darling Basin Commission established? 27