A backwater is a part of a river in which there is little or no current. It can refer to a branch of a main river, which lies alongside it and then rejoins it, or to a body of water in a main river, backed up by the sea tide or by an obstruction such as a dam.[1] Manmade restrictions to natural stream flow or temporary natural obstructions such as ice jams, vegetation blockage, or flooding of a lower stream can create backwater.[2]
If a river has developed one or more alternative courses in its evolution, one channel is usually designated the main course, and secondary channels may be termed backwaters.[3] The main river course will usually have the fastest stream and will likely be the main navigation route; backwaters may be shallower and flow more slowly, if at all. Some backwaters are rich in mangrove forest.[4] This results in a more diverse environment of scientific interest and worthy of preservation.[5][6] Backwaters also provide opportunities for leisure activities such as canoeing and fishing.[7][8]
The term has been applied as a metaphor to physical and social areas that have been bypassed. It may apply to places that have been neglected in economic development,[9] or in the expression a "cultural backwater".[10]
When a section of a river is near the coast or another feature that sets its base level, the section influenced by the conditions at its mouth is termed a backwater. If a river flows into a lake or sea, it is the region in which the slope of the river decreases because the lower water flux permitted at the mouth causes the water to back up. Where the river outlet is strongly affected by tides, the cyclic change in base level changes the portion of the river that is a backwater. As a result, fresh and salt water may become mixed to form an estuarine environment.[11]
^Langbein, W. B.; Iseri, Kathleen T. (1960). "General Introduction and Hydrologic Definitions, Manual of Hydrology: Part 1. General Surface-Water Techniques" (PDF). pubs.usgs.gov. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1542-F. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
^Wargrave Local History Society Latest News - November 2003 Hennerton and the Backwater 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
^Yee, Amy (2002-05-10). "A Cultural Backwater No Longer". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
^Southard, John B. (2006). "Chapter 5: Open-Channel Flow" (PDF). An Introduction to Fluid Motions, Sediment Transport, and Current-generated Sedimentary Structures. MIT OpenCourseWare. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
January 01, 1970
backwater, river, backwater, part, river, which, there, little, current, refer, branch, main, river, which, lies, alongside, then, rejoins, body, water, main, river, backed, tide, obstruction, such, manmade, restrictions, natural, stream, flow, temporary, natu. A backwater is a part of a river in which there is little or no current It can refer to a branch of a main river which lies alongside it and then rejoins it or to a body of water in a main river backed up by the sea tide or by an obstruction such as a dam 1 Manmade restrictions to natural stream flow or temporary natural obstructions such as ice jams vegetation blockage or flooding of a lower stream can create backwater 2 Contents 1 Alternative channel 2 Water backed up by an obstruction 3 See also 4 ReferencesAlternative channel edit nbsp A Kerala houseboat in Kumarakom India If a river has developed one or more alternative courses in its evolution one channel is usually designated the main course and secondary channels may be termed backwaters 3 The main river course will usually have the fastest stream and will likely be the main navigation route backwaters may be shallower and flow more slowly if at all Some backwaters are rich in mangrove forest 4 This results in a more diverse environment of scientific interest and worthy of preservation 5 6 Backwaters also provide opportunities for leisure activities such as canoeing and fishing 7 8 The term has been applied as a metaphor to physical and social areas that have been bypassed It may apply to places that have been neglected in economic development 9 or in the expression a cultural backwater 10 Water backed up by an obstruction edit nbsp Kumarakom lake in Kerala backwaters When a section of a river is near the coast or another feature that sets its base level the section influenced by the conditions at its mouth is termed a backwater If a river flows into a lake or sea it is the region in which the slope of the river decreases because the lower water flux permitted at the mouth causes the water to back up Where the river outlet is strongly affected by tides the cyclic change in base level changes the portion of the river that is a backwater As a result fresh and salt water may become mixed to form an estuarine environment 11 See also editDistributary Lagoon Kerala backwatersReferences edit Merriam Webster Dictionary Langbein W B Iseri Kathleen T 1960 General Introduction and Hydrologic Definitions Manual of Hydrology Part 1 General Surface Water Techniques PDF pubs usgs gov Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1542 F U S Geological Survey Retrieved February 10 2019 Wargrave Local History Society Latest News November 2003 Hennerton and the Backwater Archived 2011 07 24 at the Wayback Machine Chettuva in Thrissur Flaunting Kerala s biggest mangrove forest OnManorama Retrieved 2018 08 28 E HOHAUSOVA P JURAJDA Restoration of a river backwater and its influence on fish assemblage Czech J Anim Sci 50 2005 10 473 482 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2017 07 05 Retrieved 2010 07 29 John C Marlin BACKWATER RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES ILLINOIS RIVER Waste Management and Research Center Illinois Department of Natural Resources One PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2010 07 29 Vistt Thames Free Family Fun Archived from the original on 2012 01 25 Retrieved 2010 07 29 Suggested paddles Cliveden Reach on the Thames Archived from the original on 2010 07 23 Retrieved 2010 07 29 The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain Yee Amy 2002 05 10 A Cultural Backwater No Longer Wall Street Journal ISSN 0099 9660 Retrieved 2018 10 07 Southard John B 2006 Chapter 5 Open Channel Flow PDF An Introduction to Fluid Motions Sediment Transport and Current generated Sedimentary Structures MIT OpenCourseWare Retrieved 16 March 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Backwater river amp oldid 1176481759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
