And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
—Rev. 16:4
5127 Most Inland Waterways
America has 25,000 miles of inland waterways. However, the country with the greatest length of inland waterways is Finland with about 31,000 miles.
5128 Longest And Shortest Rivers
The longest river which can be navigated is the Amazon River in South America. It has 2,236 miles of navigable waters ending in the Atlantic Ocean.
In case anyone is interested, the shortest river in the world is the D River in Oregon. It empties into the Pacific along its 440-feet length!
5129 Most Crooked River
Cache River, a little stream that empties into the Ohio five miles above Cairo, is decidedly the most serpentine stream. However, it is one hundred and eighty miles long, showing a waste of one hundred and forty-four miles in crooks.
5130 Names Of Some Rivers
As one travels across the country, he passes over many streams of water with various and sundry names. These names are derived from various sources and were given to these streams for different reasons. There is the Snake River in Nebraska, so named because it twists and turns like a serpent as it meanders through the sandhills. Then there is the Osage River in Missouri, so named for a tribe of Indians that lived along the banks in the early days of our country’s history. The Red River that divides Texas and Oklahoma is so named because of the color of the water, which occurs because of the red clay hills along its tributaries.
—Carl C. Williams
5131 The Gulf Stream
There is a river in the ocean. In the severest droughts it never fails, and in the mightiest floods it never overflows. Its banks and its bottom are of cold water, while its current is warm. The Gulf of Mexico is its fountain, and its mouth is the Arctic seas. It is the Gulf Stream. There is in the world no other so majestic a flow of water.
Its current is more rapid than the Mississippi or the Amazon, and its volume more than a thousand times greater. Its waters, as far out as the Carolina coasts, are of an indigo blue. They are so distinctly marked that the line of junction with the common sea water may be traced with the eye. Often one-half of the vessel may be perceived floating in the Gulf Stream to mingle with the waters of the sea.
In addition to this there is another peculiar fact. The fishermen on the coast of Norway are supplied with wood from the tropics by the Gulf Stream. Think of the Arctic fishermen burning upon their hearths the palms of Hayti, the mahogany of Honduras, and the precious woods of the Amazon and Orinoco.
5132 Those Forward-Going Icebergs
On the coast of Labrador I’ve seen huge icebergs towering 400 feet into the air. Surprisingly, they all sail due south, right into the teeth of strong headwinds and huge opposing waves. The secret lies in the fact that nearly 90 percent of their bulk is concealed from view beneath the surface, where the Labrador current takes control. This mighty force bears them along no matter how many obstacles they encounter.
—H. G. Bosch
See also: Pollution, Water ; Streams and Fountains ; Water Shortage .